SAN BRUNO, CA and NEW YORK, NY -- 05/09/08 --
YouTube, the leading online
video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally
created videos, and Pangea Day, a global event dedicated to bringing people
together through film, today announced an official YouTube group
(
www.youtube.com/group/pangeadaybroadcast) in celebration of Pangea Day.
On Saturday, May 10, Pangea Day sites in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los
Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked live to produce a
program of powerful films, visionary speakers and uplifting music. By 4:30
p.m. (PT), a selection of Pangea Day films will be showcased on the YouTube
homepage, giving hundreds of millions of YouTube users worldwide the
opportunity to participate in the global event.
"YouTube's array of content, from creative short films to inspirational
calls to action, renders the site an ideal platform for hosting Pangea Day
films," said Delia Cohen, Executive Director of Pangea Day. "By harnessing
the power of online video, Pangea Day extends both the reach of our
worldwide event and our desire for a future of tolerance and understanding
across continents."
The twelve films to be featured on the YouTube homepage were selected by
Pangea Day as part of their international competition. Pangea Day received
over 2,500 submissions from more than 100 countries. Each film aims to
inform, inspire, and promote cross-cultural understanding. On Pangea Day,
visitors to YouTube's homepage will be able to watch and engage with the
following 12 short films: "The Ball," "Combatants," "Cuba," "Dancing
Queen," "Elevator Music," "Encounter Point," "I'll Wait for the Next One,"
"I Remember Lebanon," "Meninos," "Refugee All Stars," "Roadworks," and "The
Slap."
In addition, YouTube will host the official Pangea Day YouTube group, a
centralized hub giving anyone, anywhere the opportunity to sound off about
the films, share their experiences from the live events and discuss the
themes addressed in the Pangea Day films.
"Pangea Day and YouTube both believe in inspiring people through visual
mediums, regardless of geographic distinctions," said Sara Pollack, YouTube
Film Content Editor. "Pangea Day's presence on YouTube further extends the
cross-cultural scope of the festival by facilitating an exchange of ideas
with a lasting impact."
As filmmakers continue to use YouTube to deliver powerful messages and
illustrate their unique viewpoints, Pangea Day comes at a particularly apt
moment. Together, YouTube and Pangea Day encourage people hailing from all
corners of the globe to openly exchange ideas, without physically crossing
borders or stamping passports to have their voices heard.
About YouTube
YouTube (http://www.youtube.com) is the world's most popular online video
community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share
originally created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect,
inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution
platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.
YouTube, LLC is based in San Bruno, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Google
Inc.
About Pangea Day
Inspired by the 2006 TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Prize wish of
documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, Pangea Day endeavors to bring the
world together and promote understanding and tolerance through film.
Pangea Day is a celebration of what unites us, rather than what divides us.
Movies can't change the world. But the people who watch them can. After May
10, Pangea Day organizers will facilitate community-building activities
around the world by connecting inspired viewers with organizations doing
groundbreaking work. For more information, please visit www.pangeaday.org.
