BANGKOK, 26 September 2018: The first annual Mekong Minis Movie Festival contest has recognised 12 submissions for awards for the first round of the video contest with a another set of winners on the way to round off the year-long contest in early 2019.
The contest, a campaign by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), is an collaborative effort with the tourism ministries of the Greater Mekong Subregion six member countries.
It was executed by Destination Mekong on the MekongMoments.com web platform and guided by an advisory board (www.MekongMinis.com/judges).
The first stage of this contest ran from January 15 to May 15, a four-month period for interested participants to put together a 60-second, or less, clip to showcase one or more countries of the Mekong region and compete for trips sponsored by the Tourism Ministries of the countries as well as private sector partners.
The GMS countries backing the contest were Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Three-hundred mini-movies (eligibly tagged with #Minis #MekongMoments #[Country]) were spread on social media and generated a claimed six million views collectively.
Commenting on the campaign Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office executive director, Jens Thraenhart said: “Today, a video is a powerful medium in inspiring travellers and promoting a destination… by showing the essence and draw of a place in just a few moments.”
Three judging groups selected 12 winners; Industry experts (editorial choice); category sponsors (category winners) and Mekong Tourism Forum delegates (industry choice).
Each winning filmmaker received a WWF sponsored Irrawaddy Dolphin trophy. They were also awarded a once-in-a-lifetime trip in the Mekong Tourism worth up to USD16,000 supported by festival partner Khiri Travel.
Rounding off this year’s festival supporters was Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which provided prizes for the contest’s ‘luxury’ category.
The next set of awards will be announced during the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Quang Ninh, Vietnam January 2019.
Submissions should be filed with the MTCO by October 31. Voting will be concluded by 15 December.
STAGE ONE WINNERS
Editorial Choice
Sethi Zelo Phat, Cambodia
Sandra Paier (Sunny), Austria
Baptiste Petit, France
Roxanne El Tolony, Germany
Nick Sullivan, Australia
Industry Choice
Ric Gazarian, USA
Maria Kasatina, Russia
Monica Ramírez Estrada & Kevin Schuster, Belgium & Mexico
Christian Bruckmüller, Germany
Dominic Doan, USA
@dominic.firelitfilms Instagram
Category Winners
Sebastian Ruiz, Colombia
Paul Moore, USA