Cambodia Investment Review
The recently concluded Kid Witness News (KWN) Global Summit 2023, organized by Panasonic Corporation, marked a significant milestone for Cambodia as students from Pannasastra International School (PSIS) and Singapore Cambodia International Academy (SCIA) represented the country for the first time in this global competition. Held online from Tokyo, Japan, the summit saw the participation of approximately 150 students from 18 schools in 9 countries, providing a diverse and vibrant platform for young filmmakers to showcase their talents and visions.
KWN is an initiative by Panasonic Corporation aimed at encouraging next-generation development through the medium of film. As part of the initiative, Panasonic lends professional video equipment, including its Lumix SII Professional Cameras, to the participating students. This year, Cambodian students made their films using these state-of-the-art cameras, which allowed them to achieve the highest possible quality for their projects. Beyond providing equipment, Panasonic also gave students brief training sessions to acquaint them with the fundamentals of filmmaking, such as camera operation, scripting, and lighting.
Sparking Conversations and Igniting Change
Yasunobu Matsumoto, the Country Head of Panasonic Cambodia, who spoke during the pre-summit awards, expressed his deep appreciation for the active participation of Cambodian students. “I would like to express my deepest appreciation to students from Singapore Cambodia International Academy and Pannasastra International School for your active participation and valuable contributions to this year’s summit,” said Matsumoto. “Through your hard work and creative expressions, you have empowered us all to think critically about various global issues, sparking conversations and igniting change.”
The summit served as more than just a platform for young filmmakers to demonstrate their creative prowess. It also encouraged them to engage with critical issues affecting their communities and the world at large. Notably, all films submitted to the KWN competition this year had themes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus on SDGs allowed students to deepen their understanding of important global issues while exercising their creativity in filmmaking.
Shared Gratitude Towards Panasonic Cambodia
The student representative from Cambodia shared their gratitude towards Panasonic for the incredible opportunity provided to them. “We are extremely thankful to Panasonic for organizing such a large-scale competition, which has allowed young students from Cambodia to showcase our storytelling skills and our passion for film. It’s a big step for us to be involved in conversations about pressing global issues,” said the representative.
The KWN Global Summit 2023 signifies Panasonic’s commitment to nurturing the creative aspirations of young filmmakers worldwide. The summit’s success has paved the way for future iterations, with organizers already preparing for the next edition. The event aims to continue promoting the invaluable art of visual storytelling and empowering more young storytellers to make a difference in the world.
For more information on the Kid Witness News Global Summit and Panasonic Corporation’s other corporate citizenship activities, interested parties can visit the official website of the KWN Global Summit 2023.
