Dr Mohammed Azman (centre, in red tie) and Caetano (left) posing with the winners and shortlisted nominees of the ISSA International Social Security Video Festival 2025. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Screens flickered to life in the dim glow of the KLCC grand ballroom, casting a soft light over a sea of faces, all turned upward in quiet anticipation.
Hushed stillness settled as visual stories from around the world unfolded in vivid sound and colour - each one a powerful reflection of how social security transforms lives.
Delegates at the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2025 watched with focus and emotion, drawn into narratives of resilience, inclusion, and innovation shared during the inaugural ISSA International Social Security Video Festival 2025.
Organised by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) alongside the WSSF 2025 from Sept 29 to Oct 3, the festival was a key highlight of the week.
It provided a global platform for ISSA member organisations to showcase the real-world impact of their work and commitment to strengthening social protection.
This year, the festival received 261 video submissions from 96 organisations across 69 countries, reflecting social security’s worldwide relevance and the shared challenges and innovations shaping its future.
Each entry highlighted how communities are improving lives and promoting greater inclusion and equity.
“We are proud to present the awards in this first-ever International Social Security Video Festival, which showcases the power of audiovisual storytelling in advancing social security for all,” said ISSA president and Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
With three award categories – short (one minute), video (one to five minutes), and youth – an international jury of communications experts shortlisted 15 finalists (five in each category).
The winners were officially announced by ISSA secretary-general Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano during the video festival’s awards ceremony on Monday (Sept 29).
In the short video category, Uganda’s National Social Security Fund took top honours with its film on the Hi-Innovator Women Accelerator Programme.
The initiative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, empowers women-led start-ups and small businesses through entrepreneurial training, seed funding, technical support, and market access.
Since its launch in February 2023, the programme has trained over 36,000 women and funded more than 280 businesses, resulting in the creation of over 32,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The video category winner was the Superintendence of Pensions from the Dominican Republic, with its moving entry titled Testimonio de Rossy: pensión por sobrevivencia (Rossy’s Testimony: Survivor’s Pension).
The video shares the story of Rossy, whose life changed after receiving a survivor’s pension following her mother’s death from cancer – support that enabled her to continue her education and move forward with dignity and hope.
The youth category recognised the Hellenic Auxiliary Pensions Defined Contributions Fund (Teka) from Greece, which won with its entry Invest Today in Your Own Future.
The video promotes Teka’s pension system designed for younger generations, highlighting the benefits of individual pension accounts and long-term financial security. It forms part of a broader awareness campaign aimed at new entrants to the labour market.
A special award for inclusion was also presented to Belgium’s Federal Public Service for Social Security for its impactful video on the European Disability Card, an initiative promoting accessibility and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across Europe.
Dr Mohammed Azman also presented the Video Festival Laureate Certificates, marking official recognition of participating organisations.
With its vibrant energy and emotionally resonant stories, the ISSA Video Festival reflected the broader theme of WSSF 2025: “Shaping Social Security for a World in Transition.”
It served as a timely reminder that behind every policy or programme are real people, real challenges – and real change.
The video festival continues through the week, with all 261 videos screened in a dedicated cinema room at the forum.
At the same time, every entry is available online via an interactive map, enabling viewers to filter by region, country, or topic.
To view the videos, visit
https://www.issa.int/.
