The jury announced today Leena Yadav, director Parched, as winner of Stockholm Impact Award. During the Stockholm International Film Festival Award Ceremony, Yadav will receive the prize designed by Ai Weiwei and given 1 million SEK in support to upcoming film projects.

The jury including the artist Ai Weiwei, Ida Panahandeh, director of Nahid with Scandinavian premiere at the Stockholm Film Festival, and Uppsala City Theatre’s director Linus Tunström announced today Leena Yadav as winner of the new film award Stockholm Impact Award.

Motivation: Through superb acting, giving a unique insight into the minds and hearts of women in rural India, told with colorful, sensual cinematography, this film is a paradoxical celebration of life, in spite of tough circumstances, creating both anger and joy, giving fuel for debate as well as hope for change, when addressing a burning question that affects, not half, but the whole of our society.

Leena Yadav will receive the film award designed by Ai Weiwei during the Stockholm Film Festival Award Ceremony on Friday 20th of November.

Stockholm Impact Award is a collaboration between the Stockholm Film Festival and the City of Stockholm with the purpose to support headstrong filmmakers who are not afraid to bring up burning topics in contemporary society. The prize of 1 million SEK is intended as a support for the further work and development of new film projects.

Nominated for Stockholm Impact Award: Det Vita Folket by Lisa Aschan (Sweden), Baba Joon by Juval Delshad (Israel), Honor Thy Father by Erik Matti (Philippines), Parched by Leena Yadav (India, USA), Tomorrow by Mélanie Laurent and Cyril Dion (France) and Yo by Matias Meyer (Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Dominican Republic).