International Video Contest: “My Culture + Your Culture=?”

Chennai, December 5: The U.S Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has launched the interactive Video Contest "My Culture + Your Culture=? Share your Story." People all over the world ages 14 and older are invited to submit videos, no longer than three minutes in length, containing any form of artistic expression including, but not limited to, dance, spoken word, poetry, and song. This contest is a call for engagement and action.

Videos will be judged on originality, creativity, effectiveness, and production quality. Four winners (two in each of the age categories: 14-17 years and 18+ years; one non U.S., one U.S.) will receive the grand prize: an all-expense-paid, two-week cultural exchange program to the United States (for the non-U.S. winners) or from the United States to a country to be determined (for the U.S. winners).

Members of the ExchangesConnect international social network community will vote on their favorite top 40 video entries, and these entries will then be ranked by a prestigious panel of judges who are ECA program alumni. In addition to receiving global recognition of their videos-on the ExchangesConnect network and through other promotional venues the four grand prize winners will be eligible to participate in a fully-funded international exchange program of approximately two week's duration. (Visa eligibility applies.)

The contest closes January 26, 2009 and winners will be announced on March 16, 2009. Create your videos now for a chance to win an international experience of a lifetime. For more information go to: http://connect.state.gov/.