Contest seeks short films on crime prevention and citizen security in Latin America and the Caribbean by young people and professionals 

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the SmartFilms® Film Festival today launched a new citizen-security contest category and is calling for submissions on the theme “I am not afraid to enjoy my city.”

We seek films by young people and professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean who, through creativity, art and technology, tell us in two minutes how they see security and crime prevention on the streets of their city. The deadline for submissions is July 30, 2019.

Insecurity has many faces: barred windows, private security systems, closed urban spaces, barbed wire. It can create cities within cities. It can mean changing the route you take when you drive or bike. Crime conditions our lives: where we go, where we live, what time we leave home and return. However, there are also efforts and progress being made to improve security and prevent crime.

We are looking for creative individuals to tell the world that they are not afraid to enjoy their city because ideas are changing and the state is modernizing. These stories could show how:

• Citizens have trust in the police and an efficient and fair justice system;
• There are social programs that create opportunities for a future beyond crime;
• Prisons can be rehabilitative spaces and former inmates have a second chance;
• Society understands that violence against women is also a problem for men.

Rules and Deadlines:

Films must be recorded on one or more smart mobile devices (phones or tablets) of any kind. The creator must be an amateur or professional of over 13 years of age. The film should last two minutes, including credits, and should be recorded in a horizontal orientation.

The short must be an original work that has not been marketed or displayed on social networks, the internet, or other platforms.

The deadline for submissions is July 30, 2019.

The winning short will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Colombia on September 10, 2019. The winning filmmaker will receive 20 million Colombian pesos (equivalent to approximately $6,000). Terms and conditions apply.

The contest will have four qualification phases:

• Phase one: The Festival organizer will form a monitoring and control committee that will verify that all participants comply with the requirements of the contest and the conditions and terms established by SmartFilms for this category.
• Phase two: The shorts that satisfactorily pass phase one will be evaluated by a curator committee chosen by SmartFilms and the IDB that will verify compliance of the accepted contents within the Colombian legal framework.
• Phase three: The shorts that successfully pass phases one and two will be evaluated by a second curator committee chosen by SmartFilms and the IDB. The committee will assess the entries and select finalists.
• Phase 4: The shorts that have reached this stage will be evaluated by juries chosen by SmartFilms and the IDB as well as the general public. The winner will be selected based on these evaluations.

The monitoring committee and curator committees will be composed of audiovisual professionals and opinion leaders.

For the contest rules and additional information on how to participate, visit www.iadb.org/smartfilmsinmiedos