Press Releases

"My Culture + Your Culture=? Share Your Story"
Invitation to Online Video Contest

November 21, 2008

On December 1, 2008, the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will launch 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 visit to the United States on an international exchange program of approximately two week's duration.

Contest opens December 1, 2008 and closes January 26, 2009.  Contest Details and Rules will be available at: http://connect.state.gov/ on December 1, 2008.  Winners will be announced March 16, 2009.

Create your videos now for a chance to win an international experience of a lifetime!