(ANS – Rome) – With a letter sent yesterday, 1 February to Provincials and  Delegates for Youth Ministry and Social Communication in Europe, EuroClip Don Bosco, a European festival of short films open to the young was officially launched. Promoted by the Departments for Social Communication and Youth Ministry it is part of the Project for Europe launched by the Salesian Congregation on 31 January 2009.

“The initiative in question is a European Festival of Short Clips open to young people between 14 - 24 years of age: EuroClip Don Bosco, films by youth for youth. The project – one which has been welcomed by Project Europe -  has slowly taken shape  thanks to the interest shown by some European Salesian groups working in the communications field. The theme chosen by promoters is European citizenship.”

With these words  Fr Fabio Attard and Fr Filiberto Gonzalez, respectively Councillors for Youth Ministry and Social Communication presented the initiative.

Starting from some experiences in progress at National level the idea was taken up of having a festival which would involve the European Provinces and countries. The group behind the project worked on defining the nature, the aim and the form it would take.

EuroClip Don Bosco is intended to provide an opportunity for young people to show their creativity and expressive skills, and share Salesian values thus becoming evangelisers of their peers. The main objectives are:

• The promotion of artistic expression, by inviting young people to reflect on topics and ideas in order to transmit positive messages;
• The production of videos, by young people for other young people as a learning  process regarding: content,  aesthetics, techniques and cinema language
• The encouraging of team work among young people from different backgrounds by creating an inter-cultural space.
• The distribution of the videos produced by the young people as part of EuroClip Don Bosco as a means of education.

Those taking part will be invited to make their films on the theme of European citizenship for the young, translating Don Bosco’s motto “Good Christians and upright citizens” in terms of European society today.

The festival will be divided into two parts: national and international. The first to be completed between July 2012 and June 2013, and in the care of the Provinces and with collaboration between YM and SC Delegates. The second, the international stage will take place in Munich, Bavaria between 31 October and  3 November 2013 with the Rector Major taking part in the award ceremony.

Shortly there will be a site where it will be possible to view the project, with the regulations for the various national stages  The organising committee is continuing its work of fine-tuning and organising the project.

Published 02/02/2012