Philippine Entry Makes the Finals in Worldwide Democracy Video Contest: Vote Now for Your Favorite Video!

A film produced by two Filipino artists has been chosen one of the 18 finalists in a worldwide video contest initiated by the U.S. Department of State.

“Long Live the Fearless Man” by Aissa Peñafiel and Miguel Ocampo was short-listed from more than 900 entries from 95 countries that participated in the Democracy Video Challenge that the Department of State and its partners launched in September 2008. 

The 18 finalists represent Brazil (2), Cote d’Ivoire, Germany, India, Iran (2), Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Zambia. 

The 18 finalist videos may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge or by searching on the Internet by title or on YouTube.  Viewers may vote for their chosen video on the same site.  Voting ends on the midnight on June 15.

Each three-minute video entry attempted to define democracy by completing the phrase “Democracy is…”  The contest has resulted in more than 900 videos that provide an array of voices and visions about democracy from around the world.

A panel of jurors representing film, media, academia, democracy promotion and youth empowerment selected the finalists. Michael Apted, President of the Directors Guild of America, and Hernando de Soto, President of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy led the panel of jurors as co-chairmen.

Six winners -- one from each region of the world -- will be chosen from the 18 finalists.  The producers of the six winning videos will be awarded an all-expense trip to New York, Washington and Hollywood in October this year.  In the trips, the winners will visit television/film sets, meet with film professionals, democracy advocates, the media, and government officials. Their winning videos will also be featured in special screenings.

The Democracy Video Challenge was launched online and at the United Nations on International Democracy Day (September 15, 2008).  It was created through a unique partnership consisting of democracy and youth organizations, the film and entertainment industry, academia and the U.S. Government.  Partners include the Center for International Private Enterprise, Directors Guild of America, International Republican Institute, International Youth Foundation, Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, National Democratic Institute, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, TakingITGlobal, the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, and the U.S. Department of State. 

YouTube is providing the video platform, and the William Morris Agency is contributing part of the prize package.