Vote for Your Favorites in the CIRCE Contest!
The national phase of the CIRCE Contest has brought together incredible creative talents from across different countries, showcasing powerful stories and compelling videos that tackle linguistic discrimination and sound-based racism. Now, it’s your turn to have a say!
We invite you to select your two favorite videos and two favorite stories from the shortlist of national winners. Your votes will help determine the international champions of the contest, whose work will be recognized on the global stage.
Browse through the shortlisted entries, get inspired by their messages, and cast your votes to support the voices that resonate with you the most! Voting is open until February 20 at 12.00 a.m. CET.
Let’s celebrate creativity, diversity, and inclusion—one vote at a time!
Videos:
1
Beyond accent discrimination
Leonor Lopes
Portugal
This video depicts a relatable, everyday scenario in which two Azoreans, while dining together at a restaurant, experience discrimination from others due to their distinctive regional accent. As they engage in conversation, their accents — characteristic of the Azores archipelago — become the target of mockery from other teenagers. The video highlights the negative effects of prejudice, showing how people from different regions can be stereotyped based on the way they speak.
2
Speaking Neapolitan: a gift, not a barrier
Zoha Shafique, Martina Polverini, Sofia Gambineri, Jacopo Goti, Emma Martone, Francesca dello Stritto, Greta Ghignoli, Martina Bergamaschi, Morgana Manno, Viola Calvanese, Vittoria Sangalli, Aida Nicoleta Tica, Pietro Sgueglia, Sofhia Baldi, Virginia Capponi, Brando Donati, Marta Pernici, Sara Polvani, Francesco Ferretti, Francesco Barbagli
Italy
This video was created by students in the 3M Global Citizenship Education class, a language course with an additional hour in English dedicated to the themes of the 2030 agenda and an additional hour for developing computer skills. The topic of accent discrimination, proposed by the CIRCE project, seemed particularly inherent to the themes of the GCE course, and allowed us to address Goal 10 of the 2030 agenda “reducing inequality” in English.
3
The Hallmark of Who We Are
Maria Leonor Macedo Gonçalves
Portugal
An accent is an expression of cultural identity that shouldn’t be considered a mistake but rather a unique characteristic. Portugal, despite its size, showcases an immense variety of accents. Each region of the country has its own distinctive way of speaking: Alentejo is known for its sing-song accent, Viseu has its own style, Lisboa is characterized by a warm accent, as opposed to the northern one which is considered tougher and curse-prone. Despite not being in Portugal, Brazil has a very unique accent that is very melodic.
4
There is no right accent, there is diversity
Bianca de Abreu Pereira
Portugal
Different students and teachers from our school against accent discrimination.
5
To You
Irene Cardillo, Matteo Friso, Ledi Kullolli, Ste Gashi, Mirciu, Martina Terzi
Italy
Our video aims to raise awareness of the issue of accentism; in fact, it shows different ways of speaking by having some students read texts.
6
Voices of diversity – unveiling accent discrimination
Amina Vilajet
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the media and on social networks, accents play an important role. Different television and radio programs may favor certain accent variants, which can influence the audience’s perception. Also, an accent may be associated with local culture and identity, which can be positive, but may also create divisions. In this video, we tried to show the best examples of accent discrimination between young people who can actually change that issue!
Stories:
1
A New Beginning
Sofia Cunha
Portugal
A young girl from Spain, Mia, moves to the USA to start high school and faces challenges due to her accent and cultural differences. Through the kindness of a teacher and classmates, she finds acceptance, pride in her identity, and a sense of belonging in her new environment.
2
Dear Diary
Jacopo Ruberti
Italy
The contribution consists of an imaginary narrative that tells the story of Kevin, a boy from Livorno, Italy, who is forced to move to France because of his parents’ divorce. He will later be teased by his classmates for the way he speaks
3
Combating Accent Discrimination – The Sound of our Voice
Farah Šehović
Bosnia and Herzegovina
This poem explores the unfair treatment people face because of their accents. It highlights the hurt caused by mocking or judging someone for speaking differently and the pressure to fit in by sounding the same. The poem reminds us that accents tell stories of where people come from and are a beautiful part of who they are. It encourages us to see the value in diversity and to stand together against discrimination, creating a world where every voice is respected and appreciated
4
In the Silence of an Accent
Mak Dujković
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nerma, a girl from a rural part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, starts high school in Sarajevo, where she faces prejudice because of her accent. Initially, she tries to hide it to avoid mockery. However, after a conversation with her Bosnian language teacher, she realizes she doesn’t need to change herself to be accepted. Gradually, she speaks with pride, and her classmates begin to appreciate her authenticity and show interest in her background. Moral: Our language and accent are integral parts of our identity. When we embrace who we are, others will also accept and respect our differences.
5
The Language of the Wind
Claudia Gonzalez Gonzalez
Italy
Often, when one has little exposure to a language, forming an opinion about it and the people who speak it is based on what little one has heard and, almost always, not understood. It would suffice, however, to stop and listen to understand the beauty that all languages have.
6
Perfection isn’t Always the Best
Aristides Pineda
Portugal
This is a story about a world where everyone cared about perfection, there was a town where people lived in a silent competition. Everybody had an accent, and they didn’t take anything less than “proper”. However they soon find out that accents don’t matter but actually the person itself.
7
Overcoming Prejudice: A Girl’s Voice in a Foreign Language
Agata Gualtieri
Italy
The story recounts the difficulties faced by a girl who moved abroad for a period of study and how prejudice against her home language affected her relationship with the language of the host country.
8
The Voice of my Heart
Maida Alić
Bosnia and Herzegovina
This poem is a powerful ode to diversity and acceptance, highlighting the beauty of different accents, languages, and cultures. The poet expresses frustration with prejudice against accents and emphasizes the universal human connection that transcends differences in speech.
9
Voices Of The World
Maria Ribeiro
Portugal
It’s a poem that talks about the discrimination of the accents. It’s very simple and it rhymes.