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YOUNG Arabs are being called upon, for a second year in a row, to shine a spotlight on the World Heritage sites in their countries by capturing their beauty and cultural significance in an engaging short film competition.
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) in Manama had launched the first edition of the competition called ‘My Heritage’ last year and owing to its success, the contest is back, and this time, in collaboration with the Heritage Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“The ‘My Heritage’ competition aims to raise awareness among the young generation on World Heritage sites in their countries and to give a better understanding of their role in sustainable development,” said ARC-WH’s programme specialist assistant Najma Al Sherooqi.
“It also aims to create a network of Arab youth interested in heritage and technology who will narrate the history in a creative and modern way to promote and encourage sustainable tourism in World Heritage sites.”
The competition, launched on March 26, is open to all aged 18 to 30. Participants are required to create a film on a site in the Arab region that is featured on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco) World Heritage list.
The judging panel will consist of members from ARC-WH, the Heritage Commission and a film director who will be the trainer of the competition.
The winning short films will be announced in September and the filmmakers will bag the chance to visit Saudi Arabia and have in-person training with a film director.
“The winners will visit Saudi Arabia to screen their films and also work on a collaborative short on one of the World Heritage sites in the kingdom,” added Najma.
The contest is part of the centre’s Arab Youth for Heritage initiative, which aims to engage youth in the protection and promotion of World Heritage sites in the region through multiple activities.
In the first edition, ARC-WH welcomed six winners in Bahrain from Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Palestine, Yemen and Libya. They screened their flicks for the public and worked on a collaborative short in Bahrain’s ‘Pearling Path, Testimony of an Island Economy’, with filmmaker Oliver Wilkins and Bahrain’s Maryam Al Yasi called The Sea in a Drop.
“The competition was part of the World Heritage Day activities held on the occasion of the Centre’s 10th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Unesco’s 1972 World Heritage Convention,” explained Najma.
Meanwhile, their World Heritage Days exhibition is still open for the public at the Centre, featuring the history of Unesco’s 1972 World Heritage Convention and ARC-WH’s role in supporting Arab states in the protection, management and promotion of heritage sites.
Those interested in applying for the short film contest can register at https://www.arcwh.org/news/my-heritage-2023 and the deadline for submissions is May 15.
For details, follow @arcwh on Instagram.
