For the second consecutive year, Peace and Sport sponsored the Prix du Documentaire (Documentary Prize) at the SPORTEL Awards evening, held in Monaco on Tuesday, 25 October. The jury, made up of Champions for Peace from the international organization Peace and Sport chaired by Joël Bouzou, awarded the Prize to ‘Speed Sisters’, a documentary that follows the adventures of the first 100% female race car driving team in the Palestine Rally.
Before an audience composed of leading decision makers in sport and the media, Wilson Kipketer, Champion for Peace and former world record holder of the 800m, presented the Peace and Sport trophy to Avi Goldstein, producer of the film by Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker Amber Fares.
Speed Sisters is the name of the team of five Palestinian women: Betty, Marah, Mona, Noor and Maysoon, aged 22 to 32 years. As the first all-women team to participate in car races, they compete with men on the circuit in an effort to win the title of the fastest females in Palestine.
Jury members (Sébastien Loeb, Pernilla Wiberg, Dan Luger, Wilson Kipketer and Maro Engel) selected ‘Speed Sisters’ from three shortlisted documentaries, including ‘Habaneros U12’ by Alfredo Ureta, and ‘ Wrestling in Yida’ by Joe Benson.
After having awarded last year’s Prize to ‘Into the Sea’, a documentary by Marion Poizeau recounting how three women athletes introduced surfing into Iran, Peace and Sport continues to highlight the fact that many directors are tackling themes to demonstrate that sport can actually move barriers and norms in society.
‘Speed Sisters’ will be screened in Monaco on 25 November as part of the 9th Peace and Sport International Forum.
For Champion for Peace Wilson Kipketer, ‘sport is a great tool to break barriers and a excellent communication tool as shown by these Palestinian women’.
‘I want to thank all the women who made this film possible, as well as Peace and Sport and SPORTEL. This prize goes to the Speed Sisters and their determination and perseverance to live free’ declared Avi Goldstein.
