Home / Employment / Contact / Search / Français / Español   

Press Release

UNICEF gives and receives film, television awards

Winner of a first prize at the World Animation Celebration in Los Angeles on 9 June. The PSA illustrates the tragedy of child labour, Produced for UNICEF's Cartoons for Children's Rights initiative by Toonz Animation in India

Wednesday, 14 June 2000: UNICEF has long recognized the value of the moving image to promote children's rights worldwide. Not only does the organization produce an array of creative work, it also sponsors awards for excellence in children's television and films. Recently, two UNICEF-sponsored awards were resented at prestigious festivals in Europe. The organization also won an award for one of its animated spots.

Roy Disney presented the UNICEF Award, given to an animated film which highlights children's rights, at the International Animation Festival in Annecy, France, on 10 June. Borge Ring of Denmark won it for Run of the Mill, a nine minute film about children and the dangers of drug addiction. Ms. Ring is an Oscar-winning animator who has combined elements of classical animation with a poetic-musical style of drawing.

The six-day Annecy festival, an off-shoot of the Cannes film Festival which started 40 years ago, is the premier competition for animators in the world. In addition to presenting the UNICEF Award, Mr. Disney, this year's honorary festival president, sat on a panel that discussed UNICEF's innovative use of animation over the past 40 years.

At this year's Prix Jeunesse International in Munich, held 6 June, the UNICEF Award went to Hillary Durman and Cilla Ware for their Channel Four Television UK production Off Limits - Strong Language. The 30 - minute drama tells the story of Zoe, a deaf teenager struggling to establish her identity and independence. The Prix Jeunesse is recognized as the most prestigious competition for children's television.

A UNICEF animated public service announcement won first prize at the World Animation Celebration in Los Angeles on 9 June. The short, non-verbal PSA, which illustrates the tragedy of child labour, won in the category of Animated Educational PSAs. Produced for UNICEF's Cartoons for Children's Rights initiative by Toonz Animation in India, the spot is one of over 70 animated shorts in the series. This is the second time in three years that UNICEF has won this prize.

See also:

Global Campaign of PSA's
International Children's Day of Broadcasting
Cartoons for childrens rights

External Links
(Disclaimer: UNICEF has no control over the content or availability of external sites.)

Prixjeunesse online www.prixjeunesse.de
Megalo Studio www.annecy.org
Animation World Network ww.awn.com/unicef

Please email media@unicef.org with comments or requests for more information