Sundance 2012: Institute Announces Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award Winners

5:00 PM PST 1/24/2012 by Jay A. Fernandez

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The emerging international filmmakers selected each receive a cash award of $10,000 as well as year-round support from Sundance.

Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images

The Sundance Institute announced the winners of the 2012 Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award Tuesday evening. Etienne Kallos (Vrystaat/Free State) from South Africa; Ariel Kleiman (Partisan) from Australia; Dominga Sotomayor (Tarde Para Morir Joven/Late to Die Young) from Chile; and Shonali Bose (Margarita. With a Straw) from India will each receive a cash award of $10,000 as well as support from and access to year-round Sundance labs and events.

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The awards, supported by India-based industrial conglomerate Mahindra Group, are designed to recognize and encourage emerging independent filmmakers from around the world. In addition to the financial support, those selected receive attendance at the Sundance Film Festival, mentoring from creative advisers, participation in an Institute lab and ongoing additional support.

"We are grateful to the Mahindra Group for building with us this multifaceted program, which embraces our joint global commitment to nurturing new storytellers and getting their voices out to the widest possible audiences," said Sundance Institute president and founder Robert Redford.

Sundance and Mahindra also will jointly launch a screenwriters lab program in India in March based on those developed at the Sundance labs.

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"Our core purpose is to use all our resources to drive positive change in the lives of our stakeholders and communities across the world – to enable them to Rise," said Mahindra Group vice chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra. “The Global Filmmaking Award fits perfectly with this intent. We are delighted to assist Sundance Institute in its mission of finding new voices in independent filmmaking from around the world."

The awards were presented at a private ceremony at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, which launched Thursday, Jan. 19.