PISETH
Competition Outline:
SEADocs – The Southeast Asian Student Documentary Award is a competition to encourage the art of documentary filmmaking in the region as a platform to engage with pressing social and environmental issues.
The 2011 competition invites students aged 18 – 28 in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to submit a portfolio of their work and a motivational essay on making a film under the theme “Tree{s} of Life: Seeds of Change” by September 2, 2011.
A jury of film, television and forestry experts in each country will make a selection of three students based on a portfolio of their work and a motivational essay. The national shortlisted students will then receive expert guidance during the 8 week production period of their competition film.
During the production period, the film ideas of the students will be explored and developed under guidance of a consultant and the students will receive a budget grant of US$ 300 to produce a short documentary film (maximum 10 min. in length) in relation to the theme, which must be submitted by November 11, 2011.
The three regional winners are selected by an international jury and receive a cash prize of US$ 500 each. Furthermore, the first place winner receives a grant of up to US$ 5,000 to produce a feature length documentary.
Theme Outline:
Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity with the livelihood of over 1.6 billion people dependent on forests. It is more than simply a rich ecological system, it is integral to life on this planet and to human survival. Our connection with the forests of this world is profound and multifaceted – covering cultural, medicinal, economic and ecological relationships. This essential bond is why the United Nations designated 2011 as the International Year of Forests and why it is the focus subject of SEADocs 2011.
It is a widely known fact that forest habitats are under threat in Southeast Asia and around the world as a result of human activity, whether through deforestation, industrialization or the ecological effects of accelerated climate change. However, individuals and communities are finding innovative ways to meet this challenge. They are not satisfied with merely identifying the problem, but pursue creative solutions – often on their own terms. SEADocs 2011 is not about forests purely as isolated biospheres, but as a precarious meeting point where the natural world and the modern world collide. The news usually speak of the negative consequences of this encounter, but dedicated individuals and groups of people around the world and in Southeast Asia are also becoming active to do their part in healing the relationship between forests and people, they are sowing seeds of change.
We are asking students in Southeast Asia to view the diverse and complex relationships between individuals and communities and the forest habitats of this region through their unique filmmaker’s eyes. The competition challenges aspiring documentary directors to look beyond the obvious and to seek captivating stories under the motto of “Tree{s} of Life: Seeds of Change”.
Schedule:
September 2, 2011 Deadline for Submissions
September 9, 2011 Announcement of Shortlisted Candidates
November 11, 2011 Submission of Competition Films by Shortlisted Candidates
November 27, 2011 Announcement of Winners
