Winners of the Youth Multimedia Arts Competition: “Envisioning a World Free from Nuclear Weapons” Announced

To mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Treaty of Bangkok), the Government of Thailand and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), launched the Youth Multimedia Arts Competition 2025: “Envisioning a World Free from Nuclear Weapons”. The initiative is also organized through the support from the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF), as a regional component of that programme, funded by the Government of Japan.

The competition invited young people aged 18–29 from ASEAN Member States to submit original works in five categories: Photography, Short Film/Animation, and Visual Arts – Traditional, Digital and AI Art. Through their creativity, participants were encouraged to imagine a Southeast Asia and a world free from nuclear weapons, highlight the significance of the Bangkok Treaty, and illustrate how a nuclear-weapon-free region can contribute to peace, human security and sustainable development.

Launched 3 October 2025 and closed on 7 November 2025, the competition received more than 100+ submissions from young creators across Southeast Asia. Their works shared powerful perspectives on peace, security, disarmament and regional cooperation.

Grand Prize Winners
• Photography
Prince Loyd Besorio (Philippines), “Peaceful Pinwheel”

• Short Film / Animation – Joint Grand Prize
Antonia Quitoriano Buyser (Philippines), “THE IMMORTAL GAME”
Prince Loyd Besorio (Philippines), “SEANWFZ: The ASEAN’s Senbazuru”

In the Short Film / Animation category, the evaluation results indicated a tie, and the Grand Prize was awarded jointly to Antonia Quitoriano Buyser and Prince Loyd Besorio, in recognition of the strong quality of both entries.

Photography Finalists
• 1st Runner-up: Dominic John Musni Manalo (Philippines), “Radiant Peace”
• 2nd Runner-up: Viengsavanh Vilavangsone (Lao PDR), “One Being, Two Shadows”
• 3rd Runner-up: Jester DJ. Manalo (Philippines), “Green Takes Over Red”

Short Film / Animation Finalists
• 1st Runner-up: Xaysana Phunphaengdy (Lao PDR), “Bell of Hope”
• 2nd Runner-up: Lorelie Albaran (Philippines), “Balintuna (Paradox)”
• 3rd Runner-up: Clarissa Sherly (Indonesia), “From Ashes, She Paints”

Visual Arts – Traditional Finalists
• 1st Place: Luis Venriko Mumu (Indonesia), “When Fear Smiles”
• 2nd Place: Michael Angelo Iglesia Escorpeso (Philippines), “The Last Mask”
• 3rd Place: Nguyễn Khuê Anh (Viet Nam), “Resonance Songs of Harmony”

Visual Arts – Digital Finalists
• 1st Place: Galang Asa (Indonesia), “Orange Colored Sky”
• 2nd Place: Desiree C. Gomintong (Philippines), “Leading Towards a Peaceful Future”
• 3rd Place: Hsu Cherry (Myanmar), “I Believe Hope Will Bloom Tomorrow”

Visual Arts – AI Art Finalists
• 1st Place: Faliha Nayza Syafhan Siregar (Indonesia), “Getaway to a Future in Bloom”
• 2nd Place: Muhammad Faid Arsyad bin Haji Mohamad Ali Juanda (Brunei Darussalam), “Forgotten Violence”

In total, 16 young artists and creators were selected as winners and finalists to participate in the commemorative programme in Bangkok, including an awards ceremony, exhibition, skills workshops and cultural activities. Several entries highlighted the role of young people as bridge-builders across borders and generations, and the importance of regional solidarity in advancing a world free from nuclear weapons.

Commemorative Event and Exhibition

The winning and finalist artworks will be showcased at the Youth Multimedia Arts Exhibition: “Envisioning a World Free from Nuclear Weapons”, taking place from 15–17 December 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Bangkok Treaty. The exhibition will highlight the creativity and commitment of young people to a world free of nuclear weapons and serves as a reminder that their voices are essential in shaping peaceful, inclusive and sustainable futures.

Panel of Judges

Entries were reviewed by a diverse panel of experts from the fields of diplomacy, disarmament, arts and media, who generously contributed their time and expertise:

  • Mrs. Chatvadee Chindawongse, Deputy Director-General, Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
  • Mr. Azril Abd Aziz, Deputy Director-General, ASEAN Political-Security Community Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
  • Ms. Diane Shayne D. Lipana, Acting Director, Summitries and ASEAN Coordinating Council Division, Office of ASEAN Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
  • Ms. Michaela Friberg-Storey, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand
  • Mr. Quoc Thai Ly, Youth Leader Fund alumnus and Policy Officer, EuroCham Vietnam
  • Mr. Martin San Diego, documentary photographer and journalist

The judges assessed the submissions based on storytelling and advocacy, creativity and originality, relevance to the theme and technical quality of the submitted works.