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Do you care about sustainable farming, the #environment, and #agroecology? Do you believe that #youth are part of the solution and can lead an agricultural revolution that is much needed in the Mekong region? Feeling creative?

Filmmakers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam are invited to submit their shorts by 15 October 2017. Find a story, do your research, gather your team, grab your camera, and get to work on your short film now! If selected, your film could win a cash prize, with the first price of $3, 000 USD, in addition to reaching thousands both online and at the 2017 Luang Prabang Film Festival.

The Mekong Region at a crossroads: from agricultural intensification to ecological matters

With a fast-growing population, increased pressure on natural resources, and climate change impacts becoming more present everyday, the Mekong Region is at a crossroads regarding its agriculture development, calling for an important shift towards an agroecological transition.

Agroecology is a promising movement to inspire young farmers and reverse urban migration. It seeks to:
➢ produce diversified and high-quality food
➢ reproduce—or even improve—the ecosystem’s fertility
➢ limit the use of non-renewable resources
➢ avoid contaminating the environment and people
➢ contribute to the fight against global warming

Across the Mekong Region, thousands of innovative farmers have already engaged themselves in an agroecological transition, moving away from conventional and chemical based farming practices. They are developing new and improved practices, building upon both traditional empirical knowledge and scientific research for a better understanding and use of ecological processes operating in farming systems.

Film requirements

➢ Fill out the online application form in its entirety.
➢ Films should be no longer than 6 minutes.
➢ The contest is open to residents of the Mekong region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam).
➢ Films must have English subtitles.
➢ Films can be any genre (cartoon, animation, documentary, etc.), but inclusion of first-hand testimony or documentation of outstanding initiatives is a plus.
➢ Upload a high-quality version of your film to YouTube or Vimeo as a private screener (unlisted or protected with a password). Be sure to provide the link and the password (if applicable) in the application form. Once selected, the top films will be asked to submit their film files to the Luang Prabang Film Festival using WeTransfer.
➢ In addition to filling out the online application form, all applicants are required to submit the following files via WeTransfer to eliza.mott@lpfilmfest.org: o Time-coded subtitle file in English (.srt format). A separate time-coded subtitle file must be attached also to films without dialogue but with floating titles/texts. Only English subtitles are accepted. o 3 screenshots from the short film (.jpg format)
➢ A selection of the top films will be uploaded to LPFF’s Facebook page and shared on ALiSEA’s Facebook page in order to compete for the “Viral” Prize, which will go to the film that gains the most likes and shares on Facebook.
➢ In addition to the aforementioned “Viral” Prize, there will be prizes for the three best films, as decided by the Jury.
➢ Winners will be decided and notified by 15 November 2017.
➢ If any of the criteria mentioned above is not met, we will not accept the application.
➢ If you have any questions about submitting your film or supporting files, please reach out to Eliza Mott at eliza.mott@lpfilmfest.org.

Full details of the call for submission here.