The 2012 Digital Storytelling Challenge was a great success, with more than 250 total submissions from social benefit organizations in 24 countries! We were impressed with the quality of the photo slideshows and videos, and all the hard work that went into them.

While we value each submission and every wonderful story, part of the fun was the spirit of friendly competition. In that same spirit, we announce the winners of this year's challenge. Congratulations to these organizations and to all that participated!

First up are our awards selected by our panel of judges, hard-working digital storytelling experts who flexed their skills to pick strong stories to receive award donations from our sponsors.

First Place Video

Dave Thomas Foundation snagged top honors in the video category with its black-and-white submission, taking home one Seagate hard drive, two Flickr Pro accounts, one Citrix GoToMeeting account, one Adobe Production Premium, one Cisco Flip Video Mino HD, and one SlideRocket Pro account.

First Place Photo

The shutterbugs at FitnessForAfrica caught our judges' attention with their powerful slideshow, snapping up two Flickr Pro accounts, one Citrix GoToMeeting account, one Adobe Premiere Elements, one Cisco Flip Ultra, one SlideRocket Pro account, and one Serebra easyLearning Training on Photoshop.

View its full slideshow.

Second Place

Developmental Disabilities Association rose to the challenge with its action-packed video and smart messaging, winning one Seagate hard drive, one Flickr Pro account, one Citrix GoToMyPC account, one Adobe Premiere Elements, and one Cisco Flip Ultra.

Third Place

Church World Service created a clever animation with stirring music and a clear call-to-action, inspiring the judges to award it one Seagate hard drive, one Flickr Pro account, one Citrix GoToMyPC account, one Adobe Premier Elements, and one CharityHowTo webinar.

Audience Choice Awards

Alliance Center for Independence was our community's favorite for video, taking home an iPad courtesy of Blazon.

FitnessForAfrica was our community's favorite for photo, taking home a Lytro camera courtesy of SurveyMonkey.

View its full slideshow.

Honorable Mentions

Best Single Photo Entry: American India Foundation 

Most Creative Storytelling: Oxfam

Best TSDIGS-inspired Video: CURE

Best of San Francisco, Best "How to Make an Impact" Video: WellDone

Most Fun in a Minute, Best Animation: Alliance for Climate Education

Best of Canada, Most Effective Call-to-Action: Muscular Dystrophy of Canada

Best Library Video: Norton Public Library

Best Global Campaign Video: Let's Do It! World

Best Demonstration of Measurable Impact: Next Step

Australian First Place Winner

MIDLAS won one full scholarship to Connecting Up 2012 Conference (including airfare, accommodation and pass to the conference.

New Zealand First Place Winner

Amnesty International won one full scholarship to Connecting Up 2012 Conference New Zealand (including airfare, accommodation and pass to the conference).