This series is the result of a UNESCO project entitled “Harnessing ICTs for the audiovisual industry and public service broadcasting in developing countries” and more specifically its component “ICT-enhanced Public Service Broadcasting: Contributing to the development of human rights, peace, tolerance and the fight against discrimination (ICT@PSB)”, co-implemented by UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector and the Sector of Social Sciences.

“The Children of Darfur” depicts the daily lives of children in Darfur and provides their views on what is currently happening in the region.

This year 108 documentaries submitted by 72 different organizations from 30 countries were presented for the Grand Prix, out of which 10 were pre selected, screened and considered for the awards. The Jury was composed of representatives of Belgium, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Poland, Portugal and France, as well as representatives of UNESCO, URTI and CIRCOM (Association of Regional Television Stations) and chaired by internationally known French writer and producer Bernard Werber.

“Revisiting Public Service Television” consists of seven newly released films and documentaries illustrating how topics such as human rights, the fight against discrimination, freedom of expression, tolerance and peace can be approached by public service television. Other awards collected by the series so far include URTI’s Bronze medal for “Village Nomade” (Niger) and the Golden Award of the Aljazeera Documentary film festival for “The Place I call home” (Egypt).

Other titles included in the series, available on DVD, are: “The Box”, Pakistan, animation; “Cualquier Ciudad”, Colombia, documentary; “Mothers on Wheels”, Argentina, documentary; and “Meena”, India, fiction.

From the fight of handicapped women for motherhood to a man’s battle against desertification, from the use of rap and dance to escape violence to reflecting on the concept of “home” and migration, these films are currently being broadcast worldwide, leading viewers to consider important societal issues.