New York, 20 March 2023 – Today, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced an open call for videos from young filmmakers worldwide for their joint United Nations initiative, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival.
Since its launch in 2009, PLURAL+ has been encouraging global youth to submit videos and express their voices on the topics of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.
“The 15th edition of PLURAL+ comes at a time when the narratives of conflict and mistrust seem to reign over the international scene. Amplified through the powerful medium of the visual arts, and short films in particular, the voices and vision of young media-makers from all over the world are crucial for informing our realities and shaping our common tomorrow. Only together can we build a positive world for our Many Cultures, #OneHumanity,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC, H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos.
“Film is a universal medium to illustrate untold stories that can educate, create empathy, and urge us to take actions. We are very proud that for the last 15 years, PLURAL+ has been a way for us to reach young content creators and filmmakers whose creative vision can foster dialogue on the cross-cutting issues of migration,” said IOM Director General, Mr. António Vitorino. “The voices of youth have always been critical to us, and they matter even more today as young people across the globe are grappling with the impacts of conflicts, the pandemic, environmental change, and displacement.”
With increasing interest and participation over the years, PLURAL+ has become a premier global platform for the distribution of youth-produced media. Since 2009, thousands of short films from more than a hundred countries have been submitted to the Youth Festival. Selected videos have been screened in several prestigious festivals, United Nations high-level events, and global distribution platforms, as well as in schools and conferences, and have received more than two million views online.
Through an International Jury comprised of renowned experts and media personalities, UNAOC and IOM will jointly select one short video as PLURAL+ International Jury Distinction Recipients in each of three age categories (up to 12, 13 to 17, and 18 to 25 years old). This year, they will also confer three Special Recognitions:
- The Special Recognition for Combating Xenophobia and Discrimination will be conferred to a film that advocates for mutual respect and depicts the pressing global issues of xenophobia and discrimination, particularly when based on ethnicity, religion or belief, such as antisemitism, Christianophobia, Islamophobia or other forms of religious intolerance.
- The Special Recognition for Sport for One Humanity will recognize a video showcasing sport as a positive and essential tool for bringing individuals and communities together, as well as for its unique capacity to bridge cultural divides and foster inclusive and diverse societies.
- The Special Recognition for Migrants’ Contributions to Societies will recognize the best film showcasing the social and economic benefits of migrants and diverse populations in host countries, as well as countries of origin. When well integrated, migrants are an added value to their societies. They can bring skills, strengthen the labor force, investment and cultural diversity, as well as contribute to improving the lives of communities in their countries of origin through the transfer of skills and financial resources.
The six recipients of the International Jury Distinctions and Special Recognitions will be invited to attend the 2023 PLURAL+ Ceremony to celebrate their work in New York in the last quarter of the year. Moreover, in addition to the main categories, a number of aspiring young media-makers will also receive recognitions through the Festival’s important network of partners.
The deadline to submit videos to the 15th edition of PLURAL+ is Friday, 30 June, at 11:59 EDT (New York time).
The full details and eligibility criteria are available here. To submit a video, click here.