The first Southeast Asia Prix Jeunesse was inspired by the events at the Prix Jeunesse International Festival held in Munich, Germany in May 2016. Established in Germany in 1964, it has been promoting, celebrating and honoring the highest quality in youth and children’s television. TV producers dream of bringing home recognition from the Prix Jeunesse Festival because it is among the highest hon
ors in children’s media. It is likened to receiving an award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, more popularly known as an Oscar award, in this case, for outstanding achievement in kids’ TV. The Prix Jeunesse Festival is always well-attended, with participation in the competition screenings, discussions and information sessions regarded as a most engaging and rewarding professional experience for those involved in the production of children’s television. Noting the scant representation of Southeast Asia in the festival, and recognizing that the SEA region, which has a vast young population, stands to benefit greatly from such a project, Anak TV Inc., through its president Elvira Y. Go, proposed the first Southeast Asia Prix Jeunesse, to be staged every two years, falling on the year prior to the PJ festival in Munich, Germany. To be held this November, the first Southeast Asia Prix Jeunesse coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN which the Philippines is hosting this year. The Prix Jeunesse Foundation has agreed to be a partner for the Southeast Asia Festival. The Prix Jeunesse’ Dr. Maya Gotz and Kirsten Schneid will act as advisers, as well as Andreas Klempin of Goethe Institut-Bangkok. Anak TV, an association of Philippine television networks, will be the Chief Convenor, and will organize, coordinate with members, and stage the first SEA PJ in Manila. As a convenor-organization, Anak TV will help set the tone for the succeeding SEA PJ, to be hosted in a
round robin style by the various countries of the region. All efforts will be aimed at formally establishing and sustaining an independent SEA PJ organization to be run by the groups joining the festival from ASEAN member countries. The matter of such organization, its official name, final logo, membership, bylaws, officers and other matters will be discussed and decided upon collegially by the various ASEAN stakeholders that AnakTV, as convenor, will meet. Although inspired by the Munich Prix Jeunesse, the SEA PJ will modify some rules of the competition. For instance, the PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL holds the competition ONLY for professionals whose works have been aired either on free TV, cable, digital TV channels, internet or mobile services. The SEA PJ, on the other hand, will welcome children, amateurs and students to inspire and prepare the future TV producers in crafting excellent video works for children. This will provide an opportunity for ASEAN children and youth to create video works for themselves, works that mirror their aspirations and desires as well as their pride in family and traditions, which Southeast Asian people hold dear. Each country will be encouraged to assemble its own National SEA PJ Committee which will ensure that many local entries are generated, local judges are tapped who can evaluate entries to enable the country to select works which it feels can stand the chance at international competition, in terms of strong content and technical polish. The committee will also ensure that entries to be sent are either subtitled or dubbed in English. It will also ensure that entries are appropriately categorized so they can be entered in the proper section. The head of the said local committee, either elected or appointed internally, will sit in the board of SEA PJ representing the said country. The country-host of the 2019 SEA Prix Jeunesse edition will be known after an election of the Governing Board of SEA PRIX JEUNESSE, which will take place during the SEA PJ in Manila in November.
