..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 30 April 2007
Press Release No. N/23/2007

ESCAP Film wins Bronze Prize at UN Documentary Film Festival

Bangkok (UN Information Services) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) won the Bronze Prize for short documentary at the 3rd Annual United Nations Documentary Film Festival for its film ‘A Future Within Reach’.

Over two hundred films competed for the awards at the film festival held in New York on 21-22 April 2007 to showcase documentaries that reflect the Millennium Development Goals.

The film highlights the often forgotten ‘human face’ behind the MDGs. It draws findings from the second regional MDG report, a tripartite initiative of ESCAP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ‘A Future Within Reach’ looks at how Asia-Pacific region, characterized by much diversity and disparity, is creating better living conditions, livelihoods and choices for its people.

Home to more than half of humanity, the Asia-Pacific region’s performance is crucial for winning global battles against poverty, HIV/AIDS and other threats to human survival. With less than a decade to go, what is needed for a major leap forward?

This 10-minute film is available, free of charge, on DVD, in 7 languages (Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Chinese, English, Hindi, Russian and Urdu).

For more information on the ESCAP-UNDP-ADB regional MDG initiative and to view the MDG film, visit: http://www.mdgasiapacific.org.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Stephanie Dunstan
Advocacy and Communications Consultant
Poverty and Development Division
UNESCAP
Tel: 02-288-2172
Fax: 02-288-3007
Email: dunstan@un.org