November 18, 2009

NEW VIDEO CONTEST - Deadline January 12, 2010

The US Embassy in Kyiv announces the launch of the U.S. State Department's second annual worldwide interactive video contest. Deadline for submission of videos is January 12. Contest Details and Rules are available at http://connectcontest.state.gov/contests/change-your-climate-change-our-world.

People from all over the world, age 14 and older, are invited to submit videos, no more than 2 minutes in length, highlighting the theme "Change Your Climate, Change Our World."

You do not need to focus on environmental themes for this contest. Climate can be more than just the air you breathe. It can also include the social, political, or economic aspects of life. In your video, tell us what you or those around you are doing to change the climate, i.e., to make your community and the world a better place.

There are no rules for what should be in the video and you should feel free to include forms of artistic expression, including dance, spoken word, poetry, and song.

Videos will be judged on originality, creativity, effectiveness, and production quality. The top 40 videos will be prominently featured on our social networking site at http://connect.state.gov.

Videos of the winners and finalists from last year's contest can be found at http://exchanges.state.gov/news/ovc.html.

Two winners from overseas - one in the age 14-17 category and another in the 18 and older grouping - will receive the Grand Prize, an all-expense-paid, State Department-sponsored international cultural exchange program to the United States that will last approximately two weeks. (Two Americans will also be chosen as winners.) Winners will be announced March 2, 2010.

Create your video now for a chance to win an international experience of a lifetime, as well as further the cause of mutual understanding.

We also encourage you to visit the US Embassy website at http://kiev.usembassy.gov/main_eng.html, become a fan of the Embassy's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/usdos.ukraine?ref=ts), and learn more about U.S. society, history and policy at www.america.gov.