What does democracy mean to you?

8 January 2010

Democracy Video Challenge 2010

The U.S. Department of State has launched the second edition of the Democracy Video Challenge for young filmmakers and democracy activists across the globe.   Contestants (age 18+) complete the phrase “Democracy is…” in a short video (three minute maximum).  Three video finalists will be selected from Poland, and will compete in the worldwide competition for the grand prize.  The grand prize consists of an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, New York and Hollywood to attend gala screenings of the winning videos, gain exposure to the U.S. film and television industry and meet with creative talented, democracy advocates, and government leaders.

The Polish edition of the competition is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and Consulate General in Krakow, in cooperation with MTV Polska, Centrum Edukacji Obywatelskiej, and the Off Plus Camera Film Festival.  The worldwide edition is in cooperation with the Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, Recording Industry Association of America, and YouTube.

Last year’s grand prize winner, Łukasz Szozda of Poland, traveled to the United States in September 2009, where he and five other grand prize winners from around the world met with U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, as well as democracy activists and members of the film and television industry. The videos by Mr. Szozda and the other regional winners were featured in a gala screening hosted by the Motion Picture Association of America. 

To enter this year’s edition, submit a video through the Democracy Video Challenge’s YouTube website, at www.youtube.com/democracychallenge. Videos must be in English or have English subtitles but they can be in any style: fiction or documentary, animated or live action.  Contestants may enter anonymously, but anonymous winners cannot collect the grand prize. The deadline for submissions is midnight (GMT) on January 31, 2010.  For detailed information, please visit the official Democracy Video Challenge website at www.videochallenge.america.gov.