PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival Programme – Apply Now!

Deadline: 10-Jun-22

Applications are now open for the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival Programme, a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that invites the world’s youth to submit original and creative videos focusing on the themes of migration, diversity and social inclusion.

By supporting the distribution of youth-produced media, PLURAL+ recognizes youth as powerful agents of positive social change in a world often characterized by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions.

Winning videos of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival are chosen based on their potential to have an impact on the audience, as well as on their artistic, innovative, and creative content. UNAOC and IOM work closely with an International Jury of six to eight members who are selected every year for their experience and achievements in the fields of filmmaking and media, as well as migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.

Awardees get a chance to present their work during the annual PLURAL+ Awards Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony is an exciting event attended by a diverse, global audience (UN staff, media professionals, representatives of civil society organizations, academics, etc.).

PLURAL+ winning videos gain international exposure, and PLURAL+ winners get the opportunity to meet and network with many professionals, peers, and organizations and explore opportunities for further distribution and dissemination of their work.

Categories

There are a variety of prizes awarded through PLURAL+ each year. The PLURAL+ International Jury Award is given to one video per age category (three prizes in total). In addition, UNAOC and IOM will award three special prizes:

• the first one, the Special Award for the Prevention of Xenophobia, will recognize a film that best illustrates the issue of xenophobia and fosters respect for all.
• The second one, the Award #forSafeWorship, will recognize a film that best explores the theme of religious diversity and coexistence between religions and faiths in their modern world.
• Finally, and for the first time this year, the Award for Solidarity amid COVID-19 will recognize a film that best explores the impact of COVID-19 and related stigma on minority groups, and the need for unity and solidarity to ensure that no one is left behind in terms of equitable access to treatment and vaccines.

What types of videos do you consider? What’s the required format?

PLURAL+ video entries must be:

• Between one and five minutes in length, including title(s) and opening/closing credits (the PLURAL+ team will automatically disqualify any submission falling outside of this time restraint)
• In English or include English subtitles
• Produced after 31 December 2018.
• In addition, PLURAL+ video entries can be of any genre (animation, documentary, music video, comedy, etc.) as long as they have the potential to make the audience think in constructive ways about the PLURAL+ themes – migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.
• If selected, entrants must be prepared to submit a digital copy of their video in either of the following formats: MOV (preferred), MP4, AVI, QT, MKV, or FLV. HD is preferred (1920×1080), but not required.

Eligibility Criteria

• The PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival (hereinafter referred to as “PLURAL+”) is open to young people of all nationalities with a keen interest in the pressing social issues of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.
• Entrants to PLURAL+ must be 25 years old or less at the time of the production of their videos.
• PLURAL+ is organized into three age categories:
  • up to 12 years old
  • 13 to 17 years old and
  • 18 to 25 years old.
• While the people appearing in the video do not have to be young, it is important that the video reflects the thoughts and opinions of the young filmmaker about migration, diversity, social inclusion, and xenophobia. The person submitting the video (“the entrant”) must be actively involved in its making; e.g. either as a director, writer, camera person, editor, actor, coordinator, etc.
• Immediate family members of staff members of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and members of the PLURAL+ International Jury are not eligible to enter the competition.

For more information, visit https://pluralplus.unaoc.org/submit/