The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals intended to transform our world by 2030. With a track record of working with Yoshimoto Kogyo to leverage the power of laughter for effective communication, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Tokyo again decided to team up with the company to organize a video contest encouraging people to post video ideas that connect SDGs to the attractiveness of local communities. The contest will be held during the 10^th Okinawa International Movie Festival (19-22 April), planned and managed by the entertainment company.

Under the theme of “Local Power to Shape the Future,” with reference to the SDGs, the local commercial contest “JIMOT CM REPUBLIC” invites participants to submit videos featuring the attractiveness of their communities which they wish to be passed down to future generations. The works featuring “local power” will be classified into three sections: overseas, 47 Japanese prefectures, and 41 Okinawan municipalities. A screening event to select the Grand Prize for each section will be held during the Okinawa International Movie Festival (OIMF). Joining the jury on behalf of the UN will be Kaoru Nemoto, Director of UNIC Tokyo, and Jeffrey A. Brez, Chief of a unit in charge of collaboration with the entertainment industry at the Outreach Division, Department of Public Information, UN Headquarters in New York.

The OIMF will also screen at each venue a PR movie series entitled “People Starting to Consider SDGs” (https://www.unic.or.jp/news_press/info/26262/), produced by Yoshimoto comedians to raise public awareness of initiatives to achieve the SDGs, as well as “So da! Dondon Ganbaro! Stamp Rally” to help people learn about SDGs as part of a game.

“Since the start of our collaboration with Yoshimoto Kogyo last spring, many opportunities have been offered for people to enjoy learning about the SDGs through laughter and entertainment, and these have effectively helped to steadily raise public awareness of the SDGs. JIMOT CM REPUBLIC will be a unique opportunity to connect the SDGs with everyone’s issues and actions. I sincerely thank Yoshimoto Kogyo and all those involved in the OIMF,” said Kaoru Nemoto, Director of UNIC Tokyo.

* *** *