Films for Enhancing Dialogue - Global

UNESCO and CILECT called on television and film schools in each of six regions (Africa, Arab States, Asia/Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America/Western Europe) to submit proposals for six production grants (US$15,000 each). Criteria for selection included:

• An intended audience of young adults (ages 13-20)
• Reflection on the problems that generate conflict between communities in a particular region or sub-region
• Exploration of solutions at an individual or community level
• Presentation of a clear alternative to violence and terrorism, which use force and terror to solve conflict
• Use of the example of a particular conflict to deliver a universal message

TV and film schools submitting proposals were asked to support students from proposal submission forward. The schools were expected to select their most talented and creative students to set up a production team. Each school was asked to submit a complete script; a production project, including background, vision, team members (students and professors) and their curriculum vita, time framework, and budget breakdown; and examples of past work of selected students and professors (on VHS). Schools submitting proposals were asked to ensure that professors follow up on the work of the team throughout the entire production process, as well as to make necessary equipment available to them.

The schools whose films were selected for the awards are located in Egypt, Burkina Faso, India, Israel, México, and Romania. For example, a script for a film entitled "Together" submitted by the High Cinema Institute of Cairo in Egypt was selected for the Arab region. A producer hired by organisers specifically for this project has worked with professors and students to refine the scripts, harmonised the scripts to make them a coherent series instead of six isolated episodes, and provided training and consulting (through email) to the production teams through all production stages. As of this writing, the selected scripts are in the process of being produced and edited. Organisers hope to have a final product by the end of the summer of 2003. They expect then to disseminate the short films, and information on the experience, to media and schools worldwide.

Youth, Inter-cultural Understanding, Peace, Conflict, Violence.

The project was launched within the framework of UNESCO's Programme for Creative Content.

CILECT is the association of the world¹s major film and television schools. Its goals are to provide a means for the exchange of ideas among member schools, and to help them understand the future of education for creative personnel in film, television, and related media.