Who can participate?
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.
Can we submit a video as a group?
Yes! Multiple young people can work together on one video, as long as each of them is 25 years old or less at the time of the production of the video. When submitting a video as a group, the video will fall into the age category of the entrant.
Can we ask our teachers, friends or family for help?
While people over the age of 25 (parents, teachers, etc.) can provide support and assistance in the making of the video, their role should remain minimal. However, it is understood that for the age group of up to 12 years old, adults may play a more substantial role.
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.
What should my video be about?
PLURAL+ recognizes young people as powerful agents of social change and video entries should therefore serve as an instrument for them to express their thoughts and opinions on one or several of the main themes of PLURAL+: migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.
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 those pressing social issues in constructive ways. To get a better idea, interested candidates should browse past PLURAL+ winning videos here.
PLURAL+ video entries should not contain profanities or material that some audiences may find inappropriate or offensive.
How do I submit my video?
To submit a video for consideration, you must first complete our online form here.
Please provide all of the required information. Incomplete submissions will lead to disqualification. You will need to specify your method of sending the video on the submission form.
The form will then ask you to submit your videos in one of four ways:
- Through a video-streaming website (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo). If submitting through this option, the entrant will be asked to include the URL of the video in the online form.
- Through a file-hosting website (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) where the entrant’s video is saved. If submitting through this option, you will be asked to include the URL of the video in the online form.
What’s the deadline to submit my video?
Submissions must be completed by 30 June 2022, 5:00pm EDT.
The PLURAL+ team will automatically disqualify any video entries received after the deadline.
How do you choose the PLURAL+ recipients?
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. The names of the International Jury members will be announced later in the year. In the meantime, learn about members of the PLURAL+ International Jury from past years here and follow PLURAL+ on social media for frequent updates.
How many videos are selected each year?
There are a variety of recognitions granted through PLURAL+ each year.
The PLURAL+ International Jury Recognition is given to one video per age category (three in total). UNAOC and IOM will also confer three special categories: the first one, the Special Recognition 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 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 recognize a short film that embodies the universal values of peace and solidarity.
Besides, PLURAL+ Partners grant additional recognitions. See a list of the PLURAL+ Partners here.
When are PLURAL+ recipients announced?
All entrants to PLURAL+ will be notified about the results of the competition by mid-November 2022, and the winners will be publicly announced at a Ceremony which will take place in late 2022. More information regarding the ceremony will be shared on our social media platforms closer to the date of the event.
What do PLURAL+ winners get?
Recipients are invited to the place where the PLURAL+ Ceremony is held, all expenses paid, attended every year by a diverse, global audience (United Nations employees, media professionals, representatives of civil society organizations, academics, etc.). PLURAL+ recipients gain international exposure and PLURAL+ winners get the opportunity to connect and network with a multitude of professionals, peers, and organizations and to explore opportunities for further distribution and dissemination of their work.
Do I maintain the rights to my video?
Yes! However, it is understood and agreed upon that PLURAL+ and its partners will have unlimited access and use of the recognized videos in all formats and platforms to further the educational objectives of PLURAL+, without compensation to the entrant indefinitely.