And finally, 2012 PUMA.Creative Impact Award Winner emerge

Yesterday, PUMA.Creative, in conjunction with the BRITDOC Foundation, announced Budrus, the story of a successful non-violent protest in the West Bank, as the winner of the 2012 PUMA.Creative Impact Award.

From left to right: Djimon Hounsou, Jochen Zeitz, winner Budrus (Julia Bacha and Jessica Devaney), PUMA CEO Franz Koch, Jess Search, Kumi Naidoo. Image source: http://creative.puma.com

The shortlist of five documentaries that also included Armadillo, Bag It, and Weapon of War were judged by an independent jury representing the worlds of film, the arts, and social change: Hollywood actors and activists, Danny Glover and Djimon Hounsou; director, Mira Nair; writer and campaigner, Jemima Khan; and Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo.

The top films covered topics ranging from global conflict and non-violent resistance to environmental degradation and protection. All of the projects have prompted impressive and measurable change in their wake – from changing consumer behaviour to affecting political debate and creating legislative change.

On the award winner, the CEO of PUMA, Franz Koch, said: “Congratulations to the team behind Budrus on winning the 2012 PUMA.Creative Impact Award. At PUMA, we believe that our position as the creative leader in Sportlifestyle gives us the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to a better world for the generations to come. We are proud to continue to support great documentary filmmaking and help to inspire positive change through this award.”

The 2012 PUMA.Creative Impact Award winner, Budrus follows a Palestinian community organizer and his 15-year old daughter as he unites Palestinians from all factions and Israeli activists in an unarmed struggle to save their village from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier. The winning documentary, Budrus, is directed by award-winning filmmaker Julia Bacha (co-writer and editor Control Room, co-director Encounter Point, co-director My Neighbourhood), and produced by Bacha, Palestinian journalist Rula Salameh, and filmmaker and human rights advocate Ronit Avni.

This annual €50,000 award was created by PUMA to identify and honour the documentary film that has made the most significant positive social or environmental impact.