Belén Cárdenas, Lorena Ankuash and Rennata Astudillo, students majoring in communication in our branch campus in Cuenca, were awarded the Regional Award during the Don Bosco Youth Film Festival.  

They won a prize of €1,000 for their short film titled: “Pasos de esperanza” (Steps of Hope”), which has been recognized among the best 8 films in the Inter-American region. The film tells the story of a young man from Cuenca in vulnerable conditions that overcomes his difficulties thanks to the educational and pastoral support provided by the Salesian Foundation “PACES”.

 
The international competition, which has been organized since 2021 by the Salesian Congregation in its headquarters in Rome, took place in October with the participation of 136 countries. Its goal is to educate young people around the world and empower them to become ambassadors of love, catalysts of change and transformation.

 
In this second edition, participants did their work based on the theme: “Love builds peace and solidarity.” The contest received short films from 7 geographical regions: South Asia, East Asia-Oceania, Africa-Madagascar, Inter-America, Southern Cone, Central-North Europe, Europe-Mediterranean and the Middle East.

 
Lorena Ankuash was the screenwriter of the short film and the winner of the 2023 Radio France International award, which was awarded to an Ecuadorian for the first time in its nine editions.

 
Rennata Astudillo, director of the film, and Belén Cárdenas, the editor of the film, thanked their teachers for all the support they provided. They said they are more committed to continue working to generate positive news and messages through their work.