Building on the success of the Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Art Exhibition held earlier this year, Sasol, the international integrated chemicals and energy and company, the British Council and The Film House have received a Silver Dolphin from the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards for the film, “Voices”, which highlights six inspiring disabled persons from different backgrounds and professions. The award for excellence in filmmaking was received during an awards ceremony before 270 guests in Cannes, France last week.
This enlightening film featured six inspiring, individuals living with disabilities who come from different backgrounds and professions. Each talks about their story, dreams and aspirations, challenges that they face and their determination to prove themselves as inspiring role models to other disabled individuals and society. The film culminates in a call to action for all members of society to pay attention to the cause of empowering disabled people. Chosen from more than 750 entries, “Voices” received the award in the category: “Sponsoring, Non-Profit, Corporate Social Responsibility.” It can be viewed on the Definitely Able website: DefinitelyAble.com.
Jack Saba, General Manager of Public Affairs at Sasol Qatar, said “Sasol is proud of the milestone that the film “Voices” has achieved. The Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Art Exhibition was certainly a great platform for the voices of the Qatari disabled community and has provided an opportunity for policy makers and stakeholders from Qatar and around the world to share and learn from each other’s experiences. “Voices” carried out this message not only on a regional basis, but internationally too. We thank the British Council, Qatar Museums and all of our partners for their support in this ground-breaking event. Sasol will continue to build on the success that the Definitely Able Campaign has achieved.”
The film conveys the message that disabled individuals are ‘definitely able’ to accomplish their goals and dreams; moreover, their achievements can change attitudes and people’s preconceptions about disabled individuals.
Waseem Kotoub, Head of Arts and Creativity at the British Council Qatar, “The British Council has always been passionate about empowering the disabled, most recently in Qatar through the Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Art Exhibition. We are honored to have worked on this ground breaking event and we congratulate Sasol and all of our other partners on the important accolade that the film Voices has achieved. This gives us hope that the voices of disabled people in Qatar and around the region will continue to be heard and celebrated.”
The Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Art Exhibition, held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, was built on the platform of Sasol’s on-going ‘Definitely Able’ corporate responsibility initiative. Other initiatives under Definitely Able have included the Chairs vs Champions event in 2012 and the visit of the British Paraorchestra to Qatar in 2014. Sasol has a new Definitely Able campaign planned that will be launched in 2016.