The U.S. Department of State has launched the second edition of the Democracy Video Contest for young filmmakers across the globe. Last year’s grand prize winner, Łukasz Szozda from Poland, is currently in the United States travelling to New York, Washington DC, and Hollywood, where he and five grand prize winners from other regions around the world are meeting with democracy activists and members of the film and television industry. The videos by Mr. Szozda and the other regional winners will be featured in a gala screening hosted by the Motion Picture Association of America. To see Lukasz Szozda’s winning entry, please visit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn8Fp1jyok

To enter this year’s edition of the Democracy Video Challenge, contestants (18 or older) should create a short video (max. 3 minutes) that completes the phrase “Democracy is…” and submit it through the DVC/YouTube:

Videos must be in English or have English subtitles but they can be in any style: fiction or documentary, animated or live action.  Contestants may enter anonymously, but anonymous winners cannot collect the grand prize. Submission deadline is midnight (GMT) on January 31, 2010. For detailed information, please visit the official Democracy Video Challenge homepage  http://www.videochallenge.america.gov/