Launch of the Second Annual Democracy Video Challenge

The U.S. Department of State announced the launch of the Second Annual Democracy Video Challenge at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the International Day of Democracy, September 15, 2009. The Democracy Video Challenge is a worldwide competition aimed at enhancing dialogue on democracy. It asks filmmakers, democracy advocates and the general public to create video shorts that complete the phrase, “Democracy is…”

This year’s contest will build on the momentum of the first annual challenge, which saw over 900 video submissions from 95 countries.

Six regional winners will be selected by the online voting public in the spring of 2010. They will receive 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.

The Democracy Video Challenge is made possible by a broad public-private partnership. Partners include: the Center for International Private Enterprise, the International Republican Institute, the International Youth Foundation, the Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, the Recording Industry Association of America, the National Democratic Institute, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, USC’s Annenberg School of Communication, TakingITGlobal, the U.S. Department of State, and YouTube.

For more information about the Democracy Video Challenge and submitting a video entry, contact the Public Affairs section at the U.S. Embassy, Maputo via email at MaputoIRC@state.gov

More information, including past videos submitted and prior winners can be seen at www.youtube.com/democracychallenge