Dubai:

Young residents aged between 18 and 30 in the UAE again have a chance to promote human rights and social values of the UAE society in a short film to create an educated generation that upholds human rights.

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai on Monday launched the third edition of the Mansour Bin Mohammad Short Film Award, under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The short film competition is open to the UAE youth, regardless of nationality, and will focus on three main subjects: tolerance and moderation, equality and fighting discrimination, and volunteer work.

Maitha Al Shamsi, Executive Director of CDA’s Human Rights Sector, said the Mansour Bin Mohammad Short Film Award this year resonates with the spirit of the Year of Giving, which formed an ideal platform to cement the values of tolerance, generosity, coexistence and moderation within the UAE community.

Al Shamsi also said that the use of video as a channel for the youth also makes it more effective in this segment of the population. “In this day and age, everything is about the seen eye and like we’ve seen in technology and social media and YouTube, that has become the channel where people give their messages. It is important to ensure that we stay abreast with the times and what the youth engage in and where they are able to express themselves,” Al Shamsi said.

Young people interested to join may start submitting their entries on Monday (September 23) until January 15, 2018. Participants from previous editions can still join so long as their entries are fresh ones.

Emirati director Masoud Amarullah will evaluate the films based on their message and the technical aspects.

The first place winner will get Dh30,000 cash prize, while the second place will net Dh20,000 and the third placed will get Dh15,000.

FACT FILE

What: Mansour Bin Mohammad Short Film Award

Who: UAE youth aged 18 to 30

When: September 25 to January 15, 2018

How to participate: Send an original short film done individually or as a group to human.rights@cda.gov.ae or send it via wetransfer.com. Physical applications may also be dropped at CDA’s office in Al Hudaiba Building.