Generation '92 - European youth video competition (CLOSED)

Contest in a few words

Twenty years ago, heads of state met in Rio de Janeiro for the first ever Earth Summit. The conference was a historic event, leading to several environmental treaties. This June, leaders will meet again, hopefully marking another positive turning point for the environment.

If you, like the Rio summit, are around 20 years old (born in 1991, 1992 or 1993), are a citizen of an EEA member or cooperating country, or Greenland, and have passion for the environment, let us see your vision of how we can solve the most pressing environmental problems!

The world has been negotiating during your whole life to slow the environmental damage caused mainly by humans. Despite some good news on many fronts, we still have a lot to do – climate change, deforestation and over-consumption of finite resources are just three of many environmental problems which have accelerated over your lifetime.

Today's decision makers are faced with the consequences of previous generations' decisions and actions. You will be faced with the consequences of today's decisions.

So the European Environment Agency (EEA) wants to know, what is your vision for sustainable living in 20 years' time?

The competition is open to a range of approaches – for example, contestants are free to choose journalism or fiction, live action or animation, interviews or images. If the films are in a language other than English, they must have English subtitles.

Participants who show the most original ideas and creative communication styles will travel to the EEA headquarters in Copenhagen, where they will receive cash prizes at an awards ceremony on 5 June 2012. There will be an additional prize for the public's favourite – the Buzz Prize. All shortlisted entries will be open for the public's vote via social media.

• 1^st place: €3000 and plaque
• 2^nd place: €2000 and plaque
• 3^rd place: €1000 and plaque
• Buzz Prize winner: plaque

The jury will be made up of notable journalists, environmentalists, communication professionals and media industry experts.

Submission deadline  

Submission ends at noon (CET) 11 April 2012. Late entries will not be accepted.

Selection process

The EEA will appoint a five member pre-selection committee consisting of practicing communication and multimedia experts whose role is to ensure that submissions meet the rules outlined in the Competition Rules. The pre-selection committee will select 20 finalists which will be submitted to the jury. A jury of prominent communication experts will evaluate the 20 finalists and pick first, second and third prize winners. Entries not adhering to the rules may be excluded from the competition at the discretion of the jury. The jury's decision is final and there is no appeal.

For the Buzz Prize, the entries will be open for a public vote between 20 April and 7 May, 2012.  The outcome of the public vote will have no bearing on the decision of the jury.

Prizes

An award ceremony will take place on World Environment Day, in Copenhagen. The EEA will cover travel expenses and accommodation for one night for all the winners.*

There will be three cash awards.

• 1^st place: €3000 and plaque
• 2^nd place: €2000 and plaque
• 3^rd place: €1000 and plaque
• Buzz Prize winner: plaque

The Buzz Prize winner will receive an honourable mention and a trip to Copenhagen to the awards ceremony on 5 June 2012.  Should the Buzz Prize winner be one of the top three places, the contestant with the next highest number of votes who has not been selected in the top three will be selected instead. The selection will be made on the basis of the number of Likes on the specially-designated website. In the case of two videos both having the same number of votes, the EEA pre-selection committee will have the final decision.

The individual recipients of prize money will be responsible for the tax implications of their winnings.

* Travel expenses will be covered only for a trip from an EEA member or cooperating country, or Greenland. Should the participant reside outside of Europe, travel expenses will not be reimbursed.