IOM and UNAOC Launch Call for Video Submissions and Announce New Award Categories for the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival

New York – 2020 marks the twelfth year of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival, a joint initiative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

Today, as the two partners announce the 2020 call for video submissions, IOM and UNAOC also announce the creation of two new award categories for the festival.

“As we fight together against a global pandemic, it is a time for solidarity, not divisiveness. Compassion, not xenophobia. Kindness not hatred,” said the High Representative for UNAOC, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos.

“In this context, the voices and perspectives of young people are more needed than ever. With our new PLURAL+ award categories, we are providing even more opportunities for young filmmakers around the world to be recognized for their creative visions,” he added.

With increasing interest and participation over the years, PLURAL+ has become a premier global platform for youth media distribution. Since 2009, over 3,000 video entries from more than 115 countries have been submitted to the festival. Winning videos 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 have received more than one million views on various online platforms, including YouTube.

“Youth and film hold the power to bring about positive change, to shift divisive narratives, and to promote peace and dialogue,” said Mr. António Vitorino, the Director General of IOM. “As the whole world fights COVID-19, it is clear that the virus does not discriminate against anyone, including migrants. Therefore, now is the time to show the key role of the PLURAL+ themes of social cohesion, diversity and prevention of xenophobia in defeating the virus and build a better world together.”

Every year, PLURAL+ invites young people up to 25 years of age to submit original and creative short films conveying constructive messages related to the themes of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.

Entitled “The Future We Want,” the first new award category invites young filmmakers to submit videos focused on the future of migration, diversity and social inclusion, as well as the prevention of xenophobia. The award category was created in the context of the 75th anniversary of the UN and the organization’s efforts to foster a global conversation on the theme of cooperation in building a common future.

The second new category, the #forSafeWorship Award, invites youth to express views and perspectives on how to foster peaceful co-existence among different faiths. This category was created in the context of the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, developed by UNAOC and launched in September 2019.

PLURAL+ video entries must be between one and five minutes and can be of any genre — animation, documentary, music video, comedy, etc. A panel of international jurors will select one PLURAL+ Award winner in each of three age categories (up to 12 years; 13 to 17-year old; 18 to 25-year old).

IOM and UNAOC will jointly select three videos to receive:

  • The Special Award for the Prevention of Xenophobia
  • The Future We Want Award
  • And the #forSafeWorship Award.

PLURAL+ partner organizations will also award a multitude of prizes and professional opportunities to several young filmmakers.

PLURAL+ winners will be invited, with all expenses paid, to participate in the PLURAL+ Awards Ceremony later in the year. There also will be a series of side events providing opportunities for professional development.

The deadline to apply for PLURAL+ is Friday, 19 June 2020, at midnight EST. For more information and to submit a video, visit: https://pluralplus.unaoc.org/

For more information, please contact, Ms. Rahma Gamil Soliman at IOM NY (rsoliman@iom.int) and Mr. Thibault Chareton at UNAOC (thibaultc@unops.org).