NOTICE TO THE PRESS
Launch of the Democracy Video Challenge
The U.S. Department of State will announce the launch of a worldwide competition aimed at enhancing the global dialogue on democracy. The launch will take place on the United Nations’ first International Day of Democracy, September 15, 2008.
The Democracy Video Challenge asks budding filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public to create video shorts that complete the phrase, “Democracy is…” The winners will be selected by the online voting public. Six regional winners will be eligible to claim an all-expense paid trip to the United States that includes screenings of their videos in New York, Hollywood and Washington, meetings with film directors, public officials and democracy advocates from nongovernmental organizations, and time on film and TV sets. Contestants who wish to compete anonymously may also submit videos. One anonymous video will be selected as a winner; however, that contestant will not be eligible to claim the travel prize.
Partners include: the Center for International Private Enterprise, the Directors Guild of America, the International Republican Institute, the International Youth Foundation, Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, National Democratic Institution, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, TakingITGlobal, and the U.S. Department of State. YouTube is providing the video platform.
For more information about the Democracy Video Challenge, contact:
Laura Hesselton at 202/453- 8363 or via email at hesseltonle@state.gov
For additional details, visit "http://www.america.gov/st/democracy-english/2008/August/20080806110122lcnirellep0.8116724.html" or www.youtube.com/democracychallenge.
