What is PLURAL+?

In a world often characterized by intolerance and cultural divisions, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival recognizes youth as powerful agents of social change and empowers them to share their creative vision with the world and foster respect for diversity.

Launched in 2009, PLURAL+ is a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with a network of more than 50 partner organizations around the globe.

Every year, PLURAL+ gives young people around the world the opportunity to express their vision and their creativity through multimedia production. PLURAL+ invites young people of up to 25 years old to submit original and creative short films focusing on the themes of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.

PLURAL+ Videos

PLURAL+ video entries are five minutes maximum and can be of any genre (animation, documentary, music video, comedy, etc.) as long as they convey a message that can contribute to making the audience think in constructive ways about the pressing social issues of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia. In addition, videos can be in any language as long as English subtitles are provided.

Selection

PLURAL+ video entries are organized in three age categories: 1) up to 12 years old; 2) 13-17 years old; and 3) 18-25 years old.

An International Jury then selects three PLURAL+ Recipients in each age category. In addition, UNAOC and IOM will confer recognitions in three special categories: the first one, the Special Recognition for the Prevention of Xenophobia, will be conferred to a film that best illustrates the issue of xenophobia and fosters respect for all. The second one, the Recognition #forSafeWorship, will celebrate a film that best explores the theme of religious diversity and coexistence between religions and faiths in our modern world. Finally, and for the first time this year, the Special Recognition for Peace and Solidarity will be conferred to a short film that embodies the universal values of peace and solidarity.

PLURAL+ partner organizations also grant recognitions and professional opportunities to more than 20 videos every year.

PLURAL+ Recipients

Videos are chosen on the basis of their potential to have an impact on the audience, as well as on their artistic, innovative, and creative content. The recipients of the PLURAL+ International Jury Distinction will be invited, all expenses paid, to participate in the PLURAL+ Ceremony, which will take place in late 2022.

In 2021, due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, recipients were invited to participate in an online Ceremony that took place on Tuesday, 7 December from 10AM to 1PM (EST – New York Time). The event was streamed live on the PLURAL+ website, the PLURAL+ Facebook page, as well as on UN Web TV.

Goal

The primary goal of PLURAL+ is to support the creative vision of young people and the global distribution of youth-produced media on themes related to migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia in order to foster respect for cultural diversity.

PLURAL+ in Numbers

Since 2009, PLURAL+ winning videos have been selected among thousands of video entries from more than 100 countries. They have been screened and broadcast in dozens of festivals, movie theaters and television networks around the world, as well as in schools and global conferences, and they have received more than one million views on various online platforms, including YouTube and Vimeo. With increasing interest and participation each year, PLURAL+ has become a premier global platform for youth media distribution.