December 29, 2008
Hollywood, California – Michael Apted, the President of the Directors Guild of America and award-winning filmmaker and documentarian, will serve as jury co-chair for the Democracy Video Challenge, an online competition that promotes a global dialogue on democracy.
The deadline for video submissions is January 31, 2009 (www.youtube.com/democracychallenge).
“Film is a window into our common humanity – the challenges and joys that make up the universal human experience – no matter what language we speak or where we were born,” said Apted. “The young filmmakers taking part in this challenge will harness the magic of this powerful art form to connect to people around the world in a global discussion on democracy.”
Apted’s award-winning work in film and television encompasses a wide range of political and social themes, including race, class, gender, conservation, equality and the impact of societal pressure on the individual. Born in England, Apted’s life as a director has taken him all over the world. His dedication to protecting the creative and economic rights of directors led him to serve for the past six years as the president of the Directors Guild of America. Apted’s global perspective and his long-time enthusiasm for encouraging young and independent filmmakers make him uniquely suited to serve as co-chair for the Democracy Video Challenge.
“As a proud partner of the 2008 Democracy Video Challenge, the Motion Picture Association of America is pleased to welcome acclaimed film-maker Michael Apted as co-chair of the DVC Jury. Mr. Apted brings to this competition an innate talent to identify remarkable story telling. His participation raises the bar for the competition and we know that these young filmmakers will be honored to have their work reviewed by such a distinguished emissary of the film industry,” said Dan Glickman, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
As co-chair, Apted will oversee the independent jury’s selection of 21 video finalists representing all regions of the world. The online voting public will then choose a winner from each region in the spring of 2009. The six Challenge winners will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, New York, and Hollywood, and meet leaders from top U.S. film schools, government and nongovernmental organizations. In addition, winners will participate in gala screenings of their videos hosted by the Directors Guild of American (New York and Hollywood) and MPAA (Washington DC) and meet with leaders in the U.S. film and entertainment industry.
Apted is currently serving his third term as President of the Directors Guild of America, which protects and extends the creative, working and economic rights of its more than 14,000 members in the U.S. and abroad as the entertainment industry's premier labor organization. A veteran feature and documentary film director, Apted has helmed an extensive list of feature films and documentaries, including Amazing Grace, Gorillas in the Mist, Coalminer's Daughter, The World is Not Enough and Nell. He is currently prepping the third installment of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Among Apted's most widely recognized documentary directorial achievements are his internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning sequels based on the original 7 UP documentary: 7 Plus 7, 21, 28, 35, 42 UP and most recently, 49 UP, which have followed the lives of 14 Britons since the age of seven in seven year increments. In addition to his documentary and feature work, Mr. Apted has worked extensively in television. He has received numerous awards and nominations for his body of work, including a Grammy, a British Academy Award, a DGA Award and the International Documentary Association's highest honor, the IDA Career Achievement Award.
Additional Background on the DVC
The Democracy Video Challenge, launched online and at the United Nations on International Democracy Day (September 15, 2008), invites citizens around the world to engage in an online global dialogue on the nature of democracy by submitting three-minute videos that complete the phrase “Democracy is...”
Challenge partners include:
- The Center for International Private Enterprise
- The International Republican Institute
- The National Democratic Institute
- The International Youth Foundation
- Directors Guild of America
- The Motion Picture Association of America
- NBC Universal
- New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts
- TakingITGlobal
- The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts
- The U.S. Department of State
YouTube is providing the video platform and William Morris Talent Agency is providing part of the prize package. For more information, please go to www.youtube.com/democracychallenge.