(ANS – Los Angeles) – It is with great excitement that news of the Salesian Congregation’s Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF.com) will host its global finale in Los Angeles, California! The meaningful and strategic location for this year’s finale is the fruit of a close working collaboration between the Interamerican Regional Fr. Hugo Orozco, Councilor for Social Communication Fr. Gildasio Mendes and the Provincial of Salesians of Don Bosco USA West Fr. Mel Trinidad. Fr. Gildasio expresses his gratitude to the USA West Province, “Thank you for your decisive generosity towards the Congregation!”
In a rapid period of time, the DBGYFF finale planning team with festival director Fr. Harris Pakkam planned out the entire event in a series of online meetings. A vibrant Salesian youth center in the heart of Los Angeles has been chosen as the venue for the finale of the screening of the second Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival. On October 13, 2023, the Salesian Family Youth Center in Los Angeles will be transformed into a beautiful world stage to showcase the best of short films created for young people by Salesian young people worldwide.
Salesian Cooperator Sheila expressed with excitement, “I get goosebumps, knowing that the Congregation is hosting such a meaningful event. I feel so proud to know that the films are produced by our Salesian young people from all over the world.”
The DBGYFF Strategic Planning member Sabrina emphasized, “The films produced by our young people this year are packed with so much meaning and values. I get emotional just thinking about the compelling stories our young people are telling through these films. I’m so excited to be a part of all this!”
Junior, a California university student, marveled at the incredible amount of work that went into organizing the film festival. Expressing his admiration for the energy and joy for this event all over the world, he shared, “The Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival has opened my eyes to the vastness of the Salesian Family—a realization that fills me with pride and enthusiasm.”
Francisco and Miguel, students at Salesian High School in Los Angeles were extremely happy to find out from their school principal that the DBGYFF finale will be coming to their very own city. Their excitement and curiosity grew at the thought of supporting and connecting with other Salesian young people worldwide through the medium of film.
From Salesian young people to adults, there is great enthusiasm and passion growing at the thought of young people saturating the fast-paced digital world with stories that touch and educate the heart—sending a strong message to this world that only “Love Builds Peace and Solidarity!”
As the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival finale draws near, the entire Salesian Family is invited to witness the magic of this event firsthand at the Salesian Family Youth Center in Los Angeles on Friday, October 13, 2023, at 5:30 PM (California Pacific Time). Live streaming will also be available through the Congregation’s digital platforms. Get the popcorn ready, invite a friend, and see you all there!
In order to encourage the widespread realization of the festival, through the organization of special screenings to be held in Salesian Family houses on all continents, the DBGYFF organizing committee has already shared the link with all the Delegates for Social Communication where it is possible to enroll one’s own house to host a screening of the festival. The Delegates, in turn, are promoting enrolments in their own provinces. In this way, once registered, anyone can access the digital environment where all the materials (shorts, promotional materials, logos, etc.) are located to organize their celebration.