Note to Correspondents

UNITED NATIONS, JACKSON HOLE FILM INSTITUTE TO HOLD SUMMIT AT FILM FESTIVAL,

 

5-9 JUNE, TO EXPLORE WAYS ENTERTAINMENT CAN HIGHLIGHT GLOBAL ISSUES

The United Nations and the Jackson Hole Film Institute will convene the first-ever Global Insight Summit, during the fifth annual Jackson Hole Film Festival in Wyoming from 5 to 9 June.  The Summit represents an unprecedented collaboration, bringing together entertainment leaders and United Nations officials to explore how film and television can be leveraged to cause awareness to global issues.  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will open the Global Insight Summit and conduct a series of private meetings with leading members of the film and television community.

The Global Insight Summit is a groundbreaking effort by the United Nations and the Jackson Hole Film Institute to work with the entertainment community to highlight critical international concerns.  Actors, writers, producers and directors from film and television will join the Secretary-General and other senior United Nations officials to discuss important global issues and the role of film and television media in raising public awareness of these problems and of the United Nations role in addressing them.

“I look forward to attending the inaugural Global Insight Summit this year and meeting with leading film executives and industry leaders,” the Secretary-General said.  “This dynamic initiative by the United Nations and the Jackson Hole Film Institute will help tackle critical global issues.  By promoting greater public awareness and engagement, the Summit will be an important complement to the work of the UN.”

The Global Insight Summit 2008 will include:

• A welcome address given on 6 June by the Secretary-General to attendees from the film and television community and the public;

• Small group meetings between the Secretary-General, senior United Nations officials and leading members of the entertainment industry to discuss world events, highlight United Nations activities, and discuss ways to engage the world on specific neglected and critical issues;

• Panels open to the public, focusing on the theme (to be announced) of the Global Insight Summit.  Panel participants may include Goodwill Ambassadors, United Nations senior officials, media figures and national leaders;

• And private meetings organized between the entertainment industry and United Nations officials and diplomats.

Complementing the Summit will be a selection of films that exhibit the power of visual media to focus world attention on urgent issues.  Through a juried selection process, the Global Insight Film Award will honour the film that best serves as a catalyst for raising public awareness on and engagement in an important global issue.

“Our Global Insight Program has always demonstrated the power of film and television to raise awareness of important global issues,” said Eben Dorros, President and Chairman of the Jackson Hole Film Institute.  “We believe that our partnership with the UN will significantly increase our ability to achieve that goal.”

The Jackson Hole Film Institute, presenter of the Jackson Hole Film Festival, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower independent filmmakers and global audiences through film and new media.

The fifth annual Jackson Hole Film Festival will screen approximately 70 independent films competing in seven programme categories, including:  Independent Features; Independent Shorts; Documentaries; World Program:  Spotlight Latin America; Global Insight; Sports Action; and Student Voices.  Representing more than 20 countries, the Festival is committed to creating a platform for global inspiration and change.  In addition to its film programmes, the Festival is also recognized for its extraordinary evening events and high profile forums, which enrich the Festival and give festival goers the opportunity to interact with filmmakers in a casual setting.

For information on the Jackson Hole Film Institute, please contact Paula Cavagnaro, Antenna Group, at tel.:  415 977 1915, e-mail:  paula@antennagroup.com.

For more information, please contact Susan Farkas, United Nations, at tel.:  212 963 3407, e-mail:  susan.farkas@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record