International jury for first-ever World Scout Film Festival announced with one more month for submissions

An award-winning independent film director and an Emmy-nominated investigative documentary maker will join leading personalities in World Scouting on the jury for the World Scout Film Festival, the first time such an event has been organised by the Movement. The festival celebrates 100 years of the Rovers, Scouting’s section for young adults, and is open to all young people between the ages of 18 and 26. Sarah Rita KattanThe jury will be chaired by Sarah Rita Kattan, who started her Scouting life in Lebanon some 17 years ago and is now a member of the World Scout Committee, the executive body of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Kattan said she was honoured to be sitting on the jury:

“Community service is an integral part of Scouting, and through films we have a chance to present how, over a period of one hundred years, Rovers have been able to be fully engaged in the community and to address the needs of the young people around them. The relevance of Scouting in our societies in a changing world is celebrated through concrete examples of our mission as active citizens.”

The festival has three categories – short film (fiction), short film (documentary) and social media video. Each film is required to have a connection with Scouting, and Scouts should be involved in its production. James Lee There will be two international experts on the jury. James Lee, who was born in Ipoh in Malaysia, is a pioneer of digital filmmaking in Asia, and rose to prominence after his 2004 film, The Beautiful Washing Machine, won the best ASEAN feature at the Bangkok International Film Festival the following year. His work has been recognised at festivals around the Asia-Pacific, and in 2016 he won a Cannes Silver Lion for Last Day of School, a branded short film.

 

 

 

Steve Chao is the lead presenter and correspondent for Al Jazeera’s 101 East series, and is renowned for his fearless coverage e of conflict, particularly in Afghanistan. The Canadian’s recent films have investigated the long arm of China’s security apparatus, the trafficking of antiquities and the treatment of refugees. Chao’s work has been recognised at the New York Film Festivals, One World Media Awards and Asian Television Awards. His film about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was nominated for an International Emmy. Diana Carrillo Tiburcio and Victor Ortega, both from Mexico, will also sit on the jury as representatives of World Scouting. Diana CarriloCarrillo was elected as one of six Youth Advisers to the World Scout Committee at the World Scout Conference in Azerbaijan last year and has been involved in the Movement for 17 years. She thinks the Film Festival is a great opportunity to show the world what Scouting is really about.

“As a juror, I am looking for films that creatively present how Scouts are creating a better world, while having fun and making friends,” she said. One of her favourite animated short films is “Man” by John Cutts.

 

Victor OrtegaOrtega, who is from Mexico, is the Manager for Graphic Design and Visuals at World Scouting in Kuala Lumpur and has been a Scout since he was 10 years old.  The Movement is marking the centenary of the Rover section with a series of exciting events throughout 2018.

“Rovers, being members of the oldest branch in Scouting, are more inclined to take personal initiatives and choose interests that are relevant to them, responding to the needs of young people in the society and the environment they live in,” Kattan said. “The Rover centenary gives us the opportunity to celebrate the relevance of Scouting and the way it responds to the changing world surrounding us through community service.”

The last day to submit films is August 31, and a special ceremony will be held in Kuala Lumpur on November 3 to celebrate filmmaking and honour the winning directors. You can find out more about the Film Festival at scout.org/filmfest