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Director-General, UNESCO
MEssagE FroM THE dIrEcTor-gEnEral oF unEsco
On behalf of UNESCO, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to you on the occasion of the second edition of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
I congratulate the State Government of Queensland for its support to this event, which also enjoys the collaboration of CNN, the International Federation of Film Producers Associations and UNESCO.
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is a celebration of the extraordinarily rich cultural diversity of the region. It provides an opportunity to showcase some of the best creative works on screen from this part of the world, which also accounts for half of the world’s film production. This is why UNESCO is proud to support this still young but already prestigious event, which this year drew more than 180 entries from 43 countries. This is also why we are presenting one particular award—for an outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film. Article 1 of UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in 2001, is of much relevance to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. I quote, “As a source of exchange, innovation and creativity, cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature. In this sense, it is the common heritage of humanity and should be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generations.” Today, media and new information and communication technologies play a vital role in promoting cultural diversity and mutual understanding among cultures and civilizations. Through its extraordinary power to reach, captivate and fire the imaginations of millions of people, the seventh art can also help us to understand and appreciate each other better, and in this way contribute to respect for difference, one of the most secure foundations for peace, and one of the great tasks of our Organization. I congratulate all the winners, competitors, jury members and organisers of these second awards and wish long life to this very promising event.
