Over 5 lakh youth across India will drive Social Change, making it the largest social film movement in the world
NewZNew (Chandigarh) : YES FOUNDATION, the social development arm of YES BANK, India’s fifth largest private sector bank, has launched the third edition of its highly successful YES! i am the CHANGE 101- Hour Social Filmmaking Challenge. YES! i am the CHANGE, India’s largest social film movement is set to create history and become the world’s largest youth film movement with participation of a record 5 lakh youth pan-India.
This flagship program of YES FOUNDATION empowers youth to make 3 minute social films that would act as a catalyst for social and personal transformation while creating invaluable communication resources for Not-for-Profits (NGOs).
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Rana Kapoor, Chief Mentor, YES FOUNDATION and MD & CEO of YES BANK said, “It is a matter of pride that in just two years, YES FOUNDATION’s YES! i am the CHANGE has emerged as the largest social film movement in India. It is a mindset transformation program that has successfully driven the spirit of positive social change amongst the youth and created invaluable communication resources for use of Not-for–Profits. I invite the youth of this country to channelize their high octane energy and fully participate in this unique initiative and catalyse India’s social transformation”
In its third edition, YES! i am the CHANGE has the following categories of participation :
| Categories | Target Audience | Registration |
Date of Challenge |
| Corporate and
Not-for-Profit |
Youth professionals working in corporates and Not-for-Profits | Jun 16 – Jul 19 | Jul 23 – 27 |
| Student | Students from : – schools (13-17 years old) & – colleges (above 18 years) |
Jun 16 – Aug 10 | Aug 15 – 19 |
| Open | All individuals | Jun 16 – Sep 27 | Oct 2 – 6 |
The top films in each category would be selected by a high profile jury comprising of eminent individuals from the media, corporate, education and development sectors including, Ms. Anu Aga (Member of Parliament and Former Chairperson, Thermax), Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi (Director, UNESCO), Mr. Vikas Behl (Director, Queen), Ms. Bruni Burres (Sundance Institute, USA), Mr. Paul Pauwels (Director, European Documentary Network, Denmark), Mr. Jaco Cilliers (Country Director, UNDP-India), Mr. Prasoon Joshi (Advertising guru, poet & lyricist), Ms. Guneet Monga (Producer, The Lunch Box and Gangs of Wasseypur), Mr. Pritish Nandy (veteran journalist, poet and film producer), Mr. Bharat Patel (Member, Executive Committee, World Federation of Advertisers, Brussels), Ms. Indu Shahani (Educationist and Ex Sheriff of Mumbai), Mr. Nilotpal Majumdar (Dean, Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute – SRFTI), Dr. Nagesh Rao (President and Director, MICA) amongst others.
A total grant of INR 45 (forty-five) lakhs would be awarded to the winners and the best films would be screened across national and international platforms to sensitise youth on social issues. Interested youth can register online at www.yesfoundation.in.
“Films should always strive to ignite and open up social dialogue. The medium is powerful and can travel cutting across barriers of caste, creed and generations. Just one short social film can create a huge difference and we as storytellers have a lot of power and responsibility. YES! i am the CHANGE is a unique initiative towards connecting the film enthusiast youngistan to support social causes. I am very excited to continue to be a part of this initiative and I look forward to watching the ‘stories of change’ the youth will capture during the 101-hour filmmaking challenge” shared Guneet Monga, Filmmaker and Jury member
“YES! i am the CHANGE is a platform to nurture and harness the ‘youth power’, synergized with the amplifying nature of media, to enable inclusive development. Last year, the movement empowered 50,000 youth to engage with social causes, creating ripples of transformation across the country. I am confident that this year, youth from all across the nation will participate and drive social change” said Ms. Prerana Langa, CEO, YES FOUNDATION.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Kuljeet Chaudhary, participant, YES! i am the CHANGE 2014 shared “YES! i am the CHANGE created a wave of change within me, but if that wave just stayed inside me, there would be no point. I tried to take it to others and today many people have been influenced by it. I feel that my purpose in making this film has been realised.” Kuljeet made a film on rehabilitation of animals in distress and within a few months, he has rescued over 67 animals and founded an Animal Rescue Corp composed of 800 youth which actively works for animal welfare.
YES! i am the CHANGE is supported by prestigious film and media schools, media associations and development sector organisations including MICA, International Advertising Association (India Chapter), Film and Television Producer’s Guild, Helpage, Bhoruka Charitable Trust, Concern India, Magic Bus, Media Trust (UK’s leading communications charity) amongst others.
