A short film produced by Indonesian Jesuit production house SAV Puskat has won first prize in the 5-minute video category of the SIGNIS Asia Media Awards.  “Dancing of Life” is about inter-religious dialogue in daily life as lived by the villagers of Demangan, Wedomartani and Sleman in Yogyakarta Province.  The film’s central message is “Many faiths, but one mission: love each other”.  

“We chose to make this film about inter-religious dialogue because we live in a society where there are so many differences. We should learn to respect to each other and promote what is good for the whole of society. Our media should showcase more examples of peaceful life in society rather than sensationalise issues such as violence caused by extremists. So when our staff had the idea to make this video, I encouraged them to do it,” said SAV Puskat director Fr Yosephus Iswarahadi SJ on receiving the award. 

The SIGNIS Asia Media Awards is an annual event organised by the SIGNIS Asia Assembly, and held on the last day of its annual meeting held this year in Palembang, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia from December 2 to 5.  Entries had been invited in three categories – video, poster and photography, and radio.  They had to be based on the theme of “peace, social communication”, and dubbed or subtitled in English.

SIGNIS Asia is the regional association of SIGNIS, a global Catholic media association focused on audiovisual productions.  SIGNIS Asia has 20 country members, including SIGNIS Indonesia.