YOUR VOICE. YOUR VIDEO. Democracy has a new challenge!

Ace! NewsFlash

YOUR VOICE. YOUR VIDEO.

THE CHALLENGE

Create a video short that completes the phrase "Democracy is…"

THE PRIZE

· An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood.

· Gala screenings of the winning videos in Hollywood, New York and Washington·

. Exposure to filmmakers and the U.S. film and television industry

. Meetings with democracy advocates from government, media and civil society.

THE TIMELINE· SUBMISSION DEADLINE - MIDNIGHT GMT JANUARY 31, 2010.

· Challenge semifinalists will be selected on or about March 31, 2010.

· An independent jury will narrow down the semifinalists to 21 finalists on or about May 15, 2010.

· The general public will vote online for the winning videos May 15 – June 15, 2010.

· Seven winners – one each from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central Asia, East Asia/Pacific and one anonymous winner – will be announced in mid-June 2010.

· The six publicly identified winners, one from each of the six geographic regions, will travel to the United States to claim their prize in the fall of 2010.

THE DETAILS

· You must be 18 or older to enter.

· Videos can be any style: fiction or documentary, animated or live action.

· Videos must be no longer than three minutes.

· Videos must be in English or have English subtitles.

· Contestants may enter anonymously, but anonymous winners cannot collect the grand prize.

· See contest site for a complete list of rules, www.videochallenge.america.gov.

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