
Deadline:
June 15, 2025
Location(s)
Online United States of America
Overview
PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival is a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that invites the world’s youth to submit original and creative videos focusing on the themes of migration, diversity and social inclusion. By supporting the distribution of youth-produced media, PLURAL+ recognizes youth as powerful agents of positive social change in a world often characterized by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions.SUBMIT A VIDEO TO PLURAL+
Details
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 cross-cutting 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 helps select three PLURAL+ International Jury Distinction Recipients in each age category. In addition, UNAOC and IOM will confer recognitions in the following special categories:
The Special Recognition for Combating Xenophobia and Discrimination will be conferred to a video that promotes mutual respect and highlights global issues of xenophobia and discrimination. This includes discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or belief, including antisemitism, Christianophobia, Islamophobia, and other forms of intolerance against other religions and faiths.
The Special Recognition for Responsible Narratives on Migration will be granted to a video portraying the efforts aimed at tackling online misinformation and disinformation affecting migrants, while promoting ethical storytelling and dissemination of accurate, fact-based information from reliable sources.
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 Distinctions and Special Categories will be invited, all expenses paid, to participate in the PLURAL+ Ceremony, which will take place in late 2025.
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, videos recognized through PLURAL+ 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.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
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 at most 25 years old 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 imperative 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.
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.
PLURAL+ video entries should not contain profanities or material that some audiences may find inappropriate or offensive.
Dates
Deadline: June 15, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Prizes and Awards
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.
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.