The Economist launches film and essay competitions

The Economist is seeking young entrants for film and essay competitions as part of its Open Future initiative.

A selection of entries will be published in The Economist’s Open Futures site and winners will be invited to participate in the Open Future Festival on 15 September held simultaneously in New York, London and Hong Kong. Winners will have their air travel and hotel paid for by The Economist.

Open Future is an editorial initiative to remake the case for the newspaper’s founding principles of individual freedom and free trade, which are being challenged in today’s political climate of populism and growing authoritarianism.
 
“These programs are aimed at engaging young people to think critically about the world around them,” said Kenneth Cukier, a senior editor leading Open Future. “It’s through debate, discussion and hearing alternative views that society moves forward. We want to provide a platform for the next generation of thinkers to develop ideas and share them in a community – not just through the written word but with video too.”

Open Future essay contest
The Economist is running five essay competitions, one for each of the five Open Future themes: immigration, free speech, free markets, diversity and technology. The specific essay questions are available online (such as: “Does immigration strengthen or undermine tolerance?”).
 
The contest is open to people aged 16 to 25. The deadline for submissions is 15 July 15. Essays must be fewer than 1500 words, taking a stance and making a case based on argument and facts. Though eloquence is appreciated, judges will make allowances for non-native English speakers.

Details on the contest and how to enter at www.economist.com/openfuture/essay-contest
  
Open Future films contest
The Economist’s Films unit is launching a global video contest called A Minute to Change the World. Participants are invited to submit an idea in video format that will answer the question: “What is the one thing you would change to build a more open world – and how would you go about it?”
 
Entries can be as simple as a filmed monologue or as complex as a 3D animation. The winner will be chosen by a group of Economist judges. 
 
The contest is aimed at people aged 16 and older. The deadline for submissions is 1 August 2018. Details on the contest and how to enter at www.economist.com/openfuture/video-contest