Press Release

Video Contest "My Culture + Your Culture=? Share Your Story"

December 1, 2008

December 1, 2008, the U.S Mission 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 American) 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 alumni of U.S. Cultural Exchange programs. 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 rules apply).

The Video Contest opens today, December 1, 2008 and closes January 26, 2009. Winners will be announced March 16, 2009. Create your videos now for a chance to win an international experience of a lifetime.