MEDIA RELEASE PR37247
U.S. Department of State Launches Second Annual ExchangesConnect Video Contest to Amplify U.S.
Public Diplomacy: "Change Your Climate, Change Our World"
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today launched the Department of State's second annual
ExchangesConnect Video Contest, "Change Your Climate, Change Our World," with a video message on the
The contest is a call to action for global citizens around the world to engage in cross-cultural community
building and mutual understanding. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S.
Department of State launched ExchangesConnect social network in October 2008 and it has attracted over
14,000 members.
People all over the world, ages 14 and older, are invited to submit their 2-minute videos to
the two age categories: 14-17 and 18 and older) will receive one of four Grand Prizes: an all-expense-paid
two-week international exchange program. Last year's contest drew over 8,400 new ExchangesConnect
Video submissions will be accepted November 17, 2009 through January 12, 2010. The ExchangesConnect
community will vote on video entries and an expert panel of judges, all ECA exchange program alumni, will
rank the "top 40" videos based on originality, creativity, effectiveness and production quality. The panel of
judges includes:
- Jay Craven - Independent Filmmaker (U.S. Cultural Envoy and AFI 20/20
Global Cultural Exchange Program alumnus);
- Vassilios Karamitsanis - President, Platforma International Film
Festival and Urban Cultural Company (International Visitor Leadership
Program alumnus);
- Josef Frank Madisia - Director, National Art Gallery, Namibia
(International Visitor Leadership Program alumnus);
- Rodolfo Molina - Coordinator, El Salvador's Biennials of Visual Arts
events (Fulbright Student Program alumnus); and,
- Hind Shoufani - Writer and Filmmaker (Fulbright alumnus).
The School of Cinema and Performing Arts (SOCAPA), one of the premier visual and performing arts
programs for young people, joins the Department in support of the contest in providing the young international
winner a two-week summer camp experience.
Please visit
SOURCE: U.S. Department of State
CONTACT: Catherine Stearns
+1-202-632-6437
StearnsCL@state.gov
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