FRANCE / FORREST WHITAKER

The UN cultural and education agency designated award-winning Hollywood actor Forest Whitaker as a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation in recognition of his commitment to using cinema to promote humanitarian ideals. UNESCO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:50
• Production Date: 21 June 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION - UNESCO
• Subject Topical: CULTURE; CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; CULTURAL PROPERTY
• MAMS Id: U110621g

Description

STORY: FRANCE / FORREST WHITAKER
TRT: 3.50
SOURCE: UNESCO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS

DATELINE: 21 JUNE 2011, PARIS, FRANCE/ FILE

Shotlist

1. Pan right, audience
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Irina Bokova, UNESCO’s Director-General:
“Forest Whitaker is hereby designated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of his efforts to highlight education as a power to promote peace and reconciliation between and within communities. His humanitarian and artistic commitments to action aiming to foster reconciliation and non-violence with the view to building peace and for his dedication to the ideals and aims of the organisation.”
3. Med shot, Whitaker
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador:
“I certainly understand that there are economic issues, they have to be addressed, but the problems to be addressed, they are political societal issues that plague many on the planet and force them into a place of want, not having, or this fear of not having that drives so many people on the planet. But I also know that education is key. Education can bring opportunities, education can bring understanding, and through understanding we can find compassion, and through compassion we can find forgiveness, and through forgiveness I believe we can find love.”
5. Various shots, Whitaker meeting Bokova
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador:
“I’ve been working in this area of peace and reconciliation for a number of years now, like for about four years. I started working in my neighbourhoods and things, dealing with gangs, and then ultimately I started working in Africa, particularly in North Uganda, with child soldiers and so I’ve been doing that for the last four years. And so as my relationship grew with UNESCO, working on different philanthropic arms of UNESCO, it just became an organic movement to put me in this area, in this area that I am most passionate about.”
7. Various shots, extract of Forest Whitaker film “Common Destiny”
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador:
“I have very big hopes, very big hopes because I met a number of really amazing people here who are trying really to advance humanity and move us forward. And so my hope is that, there are a number of programmes to mobilise youth, to empower youth, to educate youth in conflict negotiation and peaceful resolution, to support them, to move them forward in their programmes, to open up other institutes that would be able to put out the message of peace around the world, and to work with other organisations and individuals as they continue to pursue peace on this planet.”
9. Various shots, extract of Forest Whitaker film “Better Angels”

Storyline

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated award-winning Hollywood actor Forest Whitaker today (21 June) as Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation in recognition of his commitment to using cinema to promote humanitarian ideals.

Born in the United States in 1961, Whitaker’s screen work includes the film Better Angels, about Ugandan child soldiers, and Common Destiny, a documentary about achieving peace and mutual understanding and the power of education in promoting peace and reconciliation.

As a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNESCO, Whitaker will champion the agency’s priorities, including mobilising decision-makers globally to support youth programmes on education for peace, human rights and global citizenship.

Whitaker will be the keynote speaker at a Youth Forum during UNESCO’s 36th General Conference in October. He will also introduce documentary and other advocacy films on the theme of peace and reconciliation.

The actor has also been associated with organizations supporting abused teenagers and animal rights.

Whitaker received an Academy Award in 2006 for his role as the former Ugandan despot Idi Amin in Last King of Scotland.

UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors are an outstanding group of celebrity advocates who spread the ideals of UNESCO through their name and fame. They extend and amplify UNESCO's work and mission and have generously accepted to use their talent and status to help focus the world's attention on the work of UNESCO.