New York – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) have announced the 2022 PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival call for video submissions, encouraging youth worldwide to submit short films that will allow for their voices to be heard on the pressing social issues of our time.

“Through its Special Awards and the awards given by the distinguished partner organizations, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival recognizes the youth’s power and potential to be drivers of social change, advocating for a world where all the different cultures, religions and peoples can live together, free from xenophobia, discrimination and hate,” said the High Representative for UNAOC, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos.

“For the past fourteen years, thousands of young people have sent us videos on migration and inclusion addressing the weighty issues of discrimination and xenophobia in a thought-provoking and interesting way,” said IOM Director General, Mr. António Vitorino. “We are very proud to launch this year a new PLURAL+ award on peace and solidarity – as now more than ever – we need to promote world peace and global solidarity to achieve our common objectives,” he added.

Every year, PLURAL+ invites young people from all over the world up to 25 years old to submit original and creative short videos conveying constructive messages related to the themes of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia. The winners will be invited all expenses paid to participate in the PLURAL+ Awards Ceremony which will take place in late 2022.

With the help of an international jury, UNAOC and IOM will jointly select one short film in each of three age categories (up to 12, 13 to 17, and 18 to 25 years old). This year, they will also 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 Special Award #forSafeWorship, will recognize the 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, PLURAL+ has announced a new award category this year: the Special Award for Peace and Solidarity.

This new special award will recognize a film that embodies the universal values of peace and solidarity, advocating for a culture of peace and understanding. PLURAL+ partner organizations will also award a multitude of prizes and professional opportunities to several young filmmakers.

With increasing interest and participation over the years, PLURAL+ has become a premier global platform for youth media distribution. Since 2009, around 4,000 short films from more than 100 countries have been submitted to the festival. Winning videos have been screened and broadcast in dozens of festivals, movie theaters, and television networks worldwide, as well as in schools and conferences, and have received more than two million views online.

The deadline to apply for PLURAL+ this year has been extended to Thursday, 30 June, 5:00pm EDT.

For more information and to submit a video, visit: https://pluralplus.unaoc.org/plural-entry-form/