AIT Announces Taiwan Finalists for Democracy Video Challenge

PR0913E | Date: 2009-04-17

AIT Announces Taiwan Finalists for Democracy Video Challenge (Photo: AIT)

The American Institute in Taiwan announced the short films chosen as Taiwan's finalists for the Democracy Video Challenge at a press conference on Friday, April 17. 

AIT Director Stephen M. Young presented certificates to Huang Rei-jin, Chang Chia-yun and Li Chia-hua for their films chosen as Taiwan's finalists. 

"We thank these young filmmakers for taking part in the Democracy Video Challenge, and for sharing their talents and perspectives with us.  Their films have gone a long way towards enhancing the global dialogue on democracy," said Director Young. 

Joining Director Young at the press conference were Huang Tsai-lang, Director of the Third Department of the Council for Cultural Affairs, Michael Ying-mao Kau, Senior Fellow of Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Liao Ching-sung, Deputy Director of Taiwan Directors' Guild.

Last fall, AIT announced the Democracy Video Challenge in Taiwan, a worldwide competition initiated by the U.S. Department of State.  The Challenge asked budding filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public to create three-minute videos that complete the phrase, "Democracy is…"  

The finalists were selected from all Taiwan entries by a panel of democracy advocates, film scholars and AIT representatives.  The films are now being evaluated by a judging panel in the United States and are eligible to be chosen among the finalists for the East Asia and the Pacific Region.  The winning videos will be selected by global online voting May 15 to June 15, 2009.  The video platform is provided by YouTube.

The Challenge will honor seven winning videos worldwide: one each from Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Near East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere, and one anonymous video.  Winners will be eligible to claim an all-expenses paid trip to the United States that includes screenings of their videos in New York, Hollywood and Washington; meetings with film directors, public officials and democracy advocates from non-governmental organizations; and visits to film sets and TV program sets.

Taiwan partners of the Challenge include Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Council for Cultural Affairs, Chinese Taipei Film Archive, Taiwan Film and Culture Association, SPOT Taipei Film House, and National Taiwan University of the Arts.

Democracy Video Challenge Official Web Site: http://www.videochallenge.america.gov/

All Taiwan Entries for the Democracy Video Challenge: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8A6D7C652A55C62B