With the help of an international jury, UNAOC and IOM will jointly select one short film in each of three age categories (up to 12, 13 to 17, and 18 to 25 years old). This year, they will also award three special prizes: the first one, the Special Award for the Prevention of Xenophobia, will recognize a film that best illustrates the issue of xenophobia and fosters respect for all. The second one, the Special Award #forSafeWorship, will recognize the film that best explores the theme of religious diversity and coexistence between religions and faiths in our modern world. Finally, and for the first time, PLURAL+ has announced a new award category this year: the Special Award for Peace and Solidarity.

This new special award will recognize a film that embodies the universal values of peace and solidarity, advocating for a culture of peace and understanding. PLURAL+ partner organizations will also award a multitude of prizes and professional opportunities to several young filmmakers.

With increasing interest and participation over the years, PLURAL+ has become a premier global platform for youth media distribution. Since 2009, around 4,000 short films from more than 100 countries have been submitted to the festival. Winning videos have been screened and broadcast in dozens of festivals, movie theaters, and television networks worldwide, as well as in schools and conferences, and have received more than two million views online.