Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker Michael Moore, Television Legend Norman Lear, and Academy Award-Nominated Actress Kathleen Turner Join Judging Panel to Award $50,000 to Best Submissions

WASHINGTON – With the 2016 presidential election around the corner, the issue of money in politics is once again coming front and center as Americans express their concern over an election where spending could hit $10 billion. Two advocacy organizations, Say No To Big Money and People For the American Way, have partnered to encourage Americans to produce public service announcements expressing their discontent about the role of big money in politics and calling for an amendment to overturn decisions like Citizens United.

The Democracy For All Video Challenge was created to tap into the creative potential of Americans who support a constitutional amendment that allows for reasonable limits to be set on money in elections. A panel of judges awards $1,000 to the best video submitted every week for 14 weeks. Then, from the field of all contest entries, five best in category videos will be awarded $5,000 each (dramatic, creative, student, funniest, original song), with $25,000 being awarded to the best overall video. The contest started August 12 and aspiring producers can enter the video challenge by submitting a 30-90 second video before Dec. 2. Full details are available at www.DemocracyForAll.com/contest.

“Instead of hiring an advertising agency to produce spots promoting campaign finance reform, we decided to enable the true voice of Americans to be heard and give people across the country a chance to earn money for their efforts,” said Jeff Haggin, president of Say No To Big Money.

Judging the final videos will be Michael Moore, Academy Award-winning filmmaker; Norman Lear, legendary television producer and founder of People For the American Way; Kathleen Turner, advocate and Academy Award-nominated actress; Dolores Huerta, civil rights activist and cofounder of United Farm Workers; Kelly Nyks, award-winning documentary filmmaker; Stacey Reiss, Emmy Award-winning television news producer; and Ginna Green, managing director for money in politics and fair courts at nonprofit communications firm ReThink Media.

“There’s nothing better than storytelling for entertaining and informing at the same time,” said Lear. “You don’t need access to a whole production studio today – just a camera and computer. I absolutely love the creativity we’re getting from people from all walks of life. They’re making the case for overturning Citizens United in ways I would never have dreamed of.”

The Democracy For All Amendment, currently being considered by Congress with 140 cosponsors in the House and 41 supporters in the Senate, would overturn cases such as Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court case that paved the way for unlimited political spending by corporations and the super wealthy. 

People For the American Way (PFAW) is dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American. That means equality. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The right to seek justice in a court of law. The right to cast a vote that counts. The American Way. Our vision is a vibrantly diverse democratic society in which everyone is treated equally under the law, given the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams, and encouraged to participate in our nation’s civic and political life. More information is available at www.PFAW.org.

Say No To Big Money is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation for the public benefit with the mission of supporting the ratification of the Democracy For All Amendment that will regulate campaign contributions. Say No To Big Money is nonpartisan and does not promote or take sides on any political issues nor endorse candidates or elections. More information is available at www.SayNoToBigMoney.com.

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