ICHCAP

The International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (Director-General Kim Jisung, hereafter “ICHCAP”) and the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (Executive Committee Chairperson Jang Hae-rang, hereafter “DMZ Docs”) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on February 6 and pledged to make concerted efforts toward promoting the documentary film industry and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH).

This MOU was concluded under the aim to establish a mutual cooperation system to support the production of documentaries, advancement of the visual materials culture, and safeguarding of ICH across the Asia-Pacific region. To this end, the two institutions agreed to cooperative efforts such as the following: discovery of and support for ICH documentary creators; planning and operation of educational programs to broaden the viewer base for documentaries; mutual cooperation and support for hosting international events, workshops, seminars, etc.; domestic and international networking; and sharing and promotion of information and outcomes pertaining to related projects.

In particular, the two institutions vowed to jointly endeavor to discover documentary projects in line with UNESCO’s founding purpose and premise of safeguarding ICH. Having established ties by jointly hosting the South Asia ICH Film Production Forum during the 15th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in 2023, the two institutions share a common goal in contributing to the message of peace and the dissemination of social value through the medium of documentaries. As such, there is a keen sense of anticipation for the partnership between UNESCO ICHCAP, which has been supporting the production of ICH-related films across 17 nations in the Asia-Pacific, and DMZ Docs, which has been striving to discover, support and foster documentary creators.

ICHCAP Director-General Kim Jisung commented, “We appreciate this deeply meaningful MOU with DMZ Docs, one of Asia’s most representative film festivals, and hope to achieve mutual growth and synergy based on each institution’s area of expertise.” He further expressed his expectations to “discover quality documentaries that aptly convey the value of ICH as opportunities for ICH to take a step closer to audiences.”

Meanwhile, DMZ Docs Executive Committee Chairperson Jang Hae-rang remarked, “I hope that this MOU signing ceremony will lead to practical endeavors such as the discovery of and support for ICH documentary creators, expansion of the viewership for such documentaries, and plans for educational programs, thereby contributing to the establishment of the international ICH network.