Nepal Video Among Democracy Video Challenge Finalists

May 18, 2009

The Department of State and its partners announced the eighteen finalists for the Democracy Video Challenge, an online video competition that asked participants to complete the phrase, “Democracy is... Public voting to select the six winners is now open www.youtube.com/democracychallenge) and will continue until midnight
June 15th (EST).

The finalists, chosen from among a pool of more than 900 entries from 95 countries, 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. These videos provide an array of voices and visions about democracy from around the world. The finalists were selected by an independent jury.

“We are delighted that one of the 17 entries from Nepal has been chosen as a world finalist in this international contest. From now through June 15, all Nepalis will have a chance to vote for free, online, for their favorite video, including the promising entry from Nepali filmmaker Tsering Choden, said U.S. Embassy spokesperson Nicole Chulick.

Six winners - one each from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia and East Asia/Pacific - will be announced mid-June 2009. The winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip in September to Washington, New York and Hollywood. The prize package includes time on television/film sets, meetings with film professionals, democracy advocates, the media, government officials, and special screenings of their videos.

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.

To see all of the Nepal entries, go to http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A434AA9CC8C5B3E2

To vote “yes or no on all 18 finalists, go to http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge