Keith Kamisugi

REEL IN THE VOTE is a non-partisan campaign launched by the San Diego Asian Film Foundation to encourage more Asian American Pacific Islanders to participate in the democratic process during this crucial election year.  The campaign is promoting a contest seeking submissions of 30-second public service announcements that promote civic responsibility and democratic participation in the electoral and public policy processes.  The PSA should help encourage voter registration and participation in the APIA community. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and message.
 
The winner receives $1,000 and a Sony HDF-FX1 HDV Camcorder ($3,700 value) and that person’s PSA will be screened before all the film programs at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, taking place October 9-16, 2008.

Entries must be postmarked by July 31 and be no more than 30 seconds in length. Rule and entry form available at http://www.sdaff.org/reelinthevote.php.

Statistics show that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have the lowest rates of voter participation among all ethnic groups. “As an Asian Pacific Islander American, your right to vote is one of the most valuable rights you will ever have,” said the organizers in an announcement. “The freedom to choose the direction of a nation is a powerful and liberating force. We need to start talking about voter participation in the APIA community, challenge ourselves to become civically engaged, empower ourselves with knowledge of the candidates, and ultimately, have a voice in where we believe this country should be headed.”