The competition takes place within the framework of UNESCO’s project “Harnessing ICTs for the audiovisual industry and public service broadcasting in developing countries” that aims at developing a set of audiovisual best practices of public service programming on major societal development issues, such as human rights, peace, tolerance and the fight against discrimination.

National broadcasters in developing countries and new democracies are often confronted with daily survival routines that prevent them from fulfilling their public service mandates. This project intends to offer an opportunity to broadcasters and independent filmmakers, particularly from developing countries, to put ICTs at the service of innovative content production on development issues, targeted to all publics, but particularly attractive for young adults aged 20-35.

Seven themes were identified for the production call: human rights, peace, tolerance, fight against discrimination, the UN Millennium Development Goals (particularly poverty-alleviation, gender equality and women empowerment), freedom of expression and intercultural communication.

The project seeks to avoid the reproduction of conventional approaches and formats to development issues, some of which are over-exposed, and aims to explore new, challenging and creative ways of encouraging reflection and debate on development through an innovative use of the audiovisual language.

The proposals will now be evaluated and a final selection will be announced by 15 November 2004. Final productions are scheduled to be released next year.