India Is is a series of photography and video challenges organized by the Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.Stabroek News, stabroeknews.com, 16 December 2011.GLOBAL VIDEO CHALLENGE: “INDIA IS.......”, indiahc-ghana.com, 5 September 2011 Both of the contests invite photo and video entries, respectively, on given themes.INDIA IS COMPETITION, indianconsulateatlanta.org
The first edition of the India Is Global Video challenge was launched in October 2011,, Consulate General of Indian Vancouver, BC during the tenure of the then Under Secretary of the Public Diplomacy Division Abhay KumarCapture India’s soul in 3 minutes The Asian Age, 17 November 2013 and Joint Secretary Navdeep Suri.;CONTESTS AS A TOOL OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY:THE “INDIA IS…” GLOBAL VIDEO CONTEST , exchangediplomacy.com which was followed by the next edition in November 2012.MEA and YouTube launch global short film contest ‘India Is’, BestMediaInfo Bureau, 12 November 2012 The first edition of the photograph challenge was launched in October 2012.India Is Global Photo Challenge 2012, saintfaron.blogspot.in, 19 November 2012
The aim of the Challenges is to highlight the 'soft power' prevalent in India, to better understand India's influence abroad and the perception others share about India., The Times of India, 5 September 2012
Video challenge
2011
Launched on 1 October 2011 and closed on 31 December 2011, the first Video Challenge allowed each participant to submit one video per theme, each 3 minutes long.Call to Participate in ‘India Is’ Global Video Challenge 2011, fundsforngos.org, 18 October 2011 The themes for the videos to be submitted were:Event Shout Out : ‘India Is’ Global Video Challenge 2011, ofindianorigin.co.uk, 25 October 2011 India Is ... Colourful India Is ... Creative India Is ... Wherever you are
The first edition of video challenge received 245 qualifying videos with participants from 40 countries including Peru, Romania, Armenia, Belarus, Serbia, Palestine, Moldova, Nicaragua, Lithuania, Chile, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Ethiopia and Turkey. 123 of the 245 qualifying videos were from outside of India, the highest response being from Europe and North America.India is… Global Video Challenge , Indian Embassy Austria
Partners
Partners for the India Is Global Video Challenge 2011 include the Public Diplomacy Division, Incredible India, AZB and Partners, Mobile Film Works and Skarma.Mobilefilmworks Signs Agreement With 'India Is', To Stream Top Thirty(30) Video Film Finalist to Mobile, 24-7pressrelease.com, 22 February 2012
Jury and Brand Ambassador
The ambassadors for India Is Global Video Challenge 2011 were Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Shekhar Kapur.Dr. Shashi Tharoor on 'India Is' Global Video Challenge 2011 , linkingface.com, 24 February 2013Shekhar Kapur on New Age Filmmaking – 'India Is' Global Video Challenge 2011 , linkingface.com, 24 February 2013
The jury members for the India Is Global Video Challenge 2011 were Karl Bardosh, Gargi Sen, Sanjoy K Roy, Priya Jaikumar, Rahul Sahgal and Sandeep Chatterjee.Discussion Board : The WaterCooler, productionbase.co.uk, 5 October 2011
Winners
The winners of the India Is Global Video Challenge 2011 were:WINNERS, indiais.org Best Film (Wherever you are) – Winner: "The Wall" by Pramod Best Film (Creative) – Winner: "Odd Balls" by Matiur Rahman Best Film (Colourful) – Winner: "Is India Colourful?" by Ravikiran 'India Is' Grand Prize Winner: "That Indian Blaze in My Dream" by Umang Khanna Best Foreign Entry Winner: "India is for Skiers" by Jonathan Simpson Jury's Choice – Winner: "Slovakian Dreams of India" by Anezka Chmolova 'India Is' Special Mention – Winner: "Gitanjali XII" BY Nicola Gamberi and Elisa Miggian
2012
The second edition of the Video Challenge was launched on 9 November 2012 by Riva Ganguly Das, Joint Secretary, PDD and Nikesh Arora, chief business officer and senior vice-president, of Google Inc.YouTube launch global short film contest on India, Hindustan Times, 9 November 2012 The competition closed for entries on 11 March 2013. For this edition India Is partnered with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap along with his team of directors to produce five short films under the three categories – India Is Incredible, India Is Unforgettable and India Is Wherever You Are.
The Challenge received a total of 329 participating videos from over 20 countries including India, United Kingdom, United States of America, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Portugal, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Malaysia, Mexico, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, China, Austria and Australia.YouTube launch global short film contest on India, ummid.com, 9 November 2012
Partners
Partners for the India Is Global Video Challenge 2012 included Public Diplomacy Division, YouTube India, Incredible India, Conde Nast Traveller India, Taj Holidays, Avid Learning, Pocket Films and Skarma.‘India Is’ Global Video Challenge , Condé Nast Traveler
Jury and Brand Ambassador
Anurag Kashyap and Professor Karl Bardosh were the brand ambassadors for the second edition.
The panel of jury members included Uma da Cunha, Selvaggia Velo, Oliver Mahn, Sanjay Suri, Sudhir Mishra and Nagesh Kukunoor.The Grand Jury – India Is Global Video Challenge 2012, Google+, 13 February 2013
Winners
Theme: India Is Incredible: Winner: Incredible India sand art by Hari Krishna. Runner-up 1: India is Incredible by Christopher Crodieu (chris.miguelquental) Runner-up 2: Incredible India by Dhruv Kapoor
Theme: India Is Wherever You Are: Winner: Ho Chai!! by Purple Productions Ind. Runner-up 1: Oars of Glory & Gloom – A short film by Sudhyasheel Sen Runner-up 2: Incredible India by Muthu Venkat
Theme: India Is Unforgettable, It Stays With You: Winner: Confined by Gloria Kurnik Runner-up 1: India is Unforgettable by Jagriti Khirwar Runner-up 2: The Imprint by Karan Singhmar
People's Choice Award (Public voting): Home in a Room by Srinath
Photography Challenge
2012
The first Photography Challenge was launched on 5 October 2012 and ended on 30 November 2012.The India Is Global Photography Challenge 2012, photographycompetitions.net
The Photography Challenge received 2,777 photographs from 20 countries including India, Bahrain, Pakistan, The United Kingdom, The United States of America, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Italy, Argentina, Poland, Saudi Arabia, China, Hong Kong, Sweden, Malaysia, Albania, Singapore, Greece and Slovakia.The India Is Global Photography Challenge 2012, contestwatchers.com, 26 October 2012Social Media Campaign Review: India Is, socialsamosa.com, 19 November 2012
Partners
The partners were Public Diplomacy Division, Google India, Incredible India, Conde Nast Traveller India, Taj Holidays, Avid Learning and Skarma.'India Is' Global Photography Challenge , ""Condé Nast Traveler""
Jury
The panel of jurists for the Global Photography Challenge 2012 included Divia Thani Daswani, Alka Pandey, Brinda Miller, Divya Thakur, Matthieu Foss, Agnello Dias and Alok Nanda.The India Is Global Photography Challenge 2012, photographycompetitions.net
Winners
Theme: India Is Unforgettable, It Stays With You:India is….., trippinonlife.wordpress.com, 15 April 2013 Winner: Sugato Mukherjee Runner-up 1: Prayash Giria Runner-up 2: Matusalen Matusalen
Theme: India Is Incredible: Winner: Supriya Biswas Runner-up 1: Sudipto Das Runner-up 2: S Kumar S
Theme: India Is Wherever You Are: Winner: Sujan Sarkar Runner-up 1: Avijit Roy Runner-up 2: Jana Hunterova
See also Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) Incredible India eDiplomacy Abhay Kumar
References
External links India Is Official Site Public Diplomacy Division Official Site Incredible India Official Site
Further reading