Local Actions advocacy video wins best film in Global Film Festival for Road Safety

Geneva, Switzerland - 2021 Local Actions winner and YOURS - Youth for Road Safety Junior Project Manager Sana’a Khasawneh recently won Best Road Safety Film for the youth category for her film مسألة ثواني: حملة توعية بالسلامة المرورية or “a matter of seconds” during the Global Road Safety Film Festival organized by the Foundation Laser International (LIFE) in collaboration with United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) from the 21st to the 22nd of February.

The film, created in 2021 and initially released during World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims that same year, was part of Sanaa’s Local Actions project, Up to Zer0. مسألة ثواني: حملة توعية بالسلامة المرورية or “a matter of seconds” served as a road safety campaign that highlighted the road safety situation in Jordan, especially the experiences of male drivers and the importance of wearing seatbelts. 

The story follows two friends, Ali and Ahmad, from their experience of celebrating a happy occasion to suffering the consequences of a road crash. The scenario shows road safety issues often faced by Jordanian youth and seeks to raise awareness on the key risk factors that could put road users at risk of a road crash.

The video leaves viewers with the message “a moment of recklessness will result in a lifetime of regret. Always be careful on the roads so you and the ones you love arrive safely.” Apart from Sana’a as the executive director, the production team was joined by Bayan Abuta’ema and Taimaa Al-Twaisii as the producers, Ahmad Haddad as the editor, and Asem Yousef as the music producer. The characters were played by Omar Ababneh and Mohammed Al-Attar. 

The 2022 Film Festival is the 8th edition of the Global Road Safety Film Festival, under the theme “For a smart and safe mobility”. The festival featured ten different themes; protecting children, youth, women, driving under influence, distracted driving, speed, safe equipment, smart and safe mobility, remembrance, and Moments2Live4.

Each of the films presented different realities anchored on different themes. It featured the submissions for the #Moments2Live4 - a campaign launched by the UNRSF that showcases the value of life, emphasizing that there are “so many moments to live for”. 

The film festival celebrated creative ways how to bring focus on important issues in creative and engaging ways. Shortlisted participants were invited to Geneva to participate in the awarding ceremony and to discuss their projects and different advocacy efforts.