#IWTLaos

#IWTLaos Youth Short Film Competition

The Mekong region is a perfect storm – a source, transit route, and final destination for many of the world’s most valuable and threatened wildlife species. Lao PDR’s geographical location at the crossroads of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China has positioned the country as a transit and distribution hub for illegal wildlife products. This multi-million dollar trade significantly threatens the survival of endangered species including tigers, Asian and African elephants, and all rhino species, as well as pangolins – the most trafficked animal in the world. 

Illegal wildlife trafficking is the third-largest illicit trade in the world, with an estimated value of up to $20 billion per year. The Mekong region remains among the most critical in terms of severity and volume of wildlife trafficking; the illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia is responsible for approximately 25% of the global industry. 

Building on the success of last year’s #IWTMekong competition, the British Embassy in Vientiane and the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF), in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), held a short film competition to draw attention to this crucial issue––this time, focusing specifically on Lao PDR and its generation of future changemakers.

We are excited to announce the winners of our #IWTLaos competition!

First Place: The Choice — Somvang Norlintha

Second Place: Only a Few People — Noppavin Chittasy

Third Place: Climate Made the Villagers Stop Smuggling Wildlife — Chittixay Phommaseng

Runner Up: Memories and Dreams in the Big Forest — Maelinda Southam

Congratulations to these filmmakers for their creative approaches to the issue of illegal wildlife trafficking in Laos.