The Adobe Foundation today announced the launch of the Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Aspire Awards, a new online youth media competition and festival showcasing creative media from teens ages 13-18 worldwide. This is the first global virtual media festival of its kind, honoring youth who creatively communicate a vision for change in their communities and lives through video, print and audio projects. MTV, Dell and Samsung have joined with AYV, the Adobe Foundation's signature global philanthropy initiative, as supporting partners of the Aspire Awards.

The AYV Aspire Awards competition is calling for entries produced by teens who demonstrate creativity and skill in using video, print and/or audio to convey a perspective on issues important to them. Educators are invited to submit work on behalf of youth who are invited to compete in eight categories - animation, documentary, music video, narrative video, poetry/experimental video, audio, graphic design and photography. Entries will be evaluated by a global panel of teen peers, youth media professionals, educators, media industry experts and filmmakers, including Neil Bennett, Sarah Kay and Robert Kenner.

"The Aspire Awards are intended to elevate youth voices by bringing their projects to a global audience and creating a community where young people can learn from one another's perspectives on topics that impact us all," said Ann Lewnes, Adobe Foundation board member and senior vice president of global marketing, Adobe. "Young people are increasingly vocal about issues that are important to them, and digital media has become one of the most important tools for telling stories that inspire social change."

Detailed information about submission guidelines, deadlines, categories, awards and more, is available at: http://youthvoices.adobe.com/awards/faq. Entries will be received through April 20. The top 20 finalists per category will be showcased online at http://youthvoices.adobe.com/awards/ on May 4. Public online voting for the Audience Choice Award in each category will run May 4-June 8. Winners will be announced on June 18.

Prize packages include: Adobe software, laptops provided by Dell, HD camcorders donated by Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Flip Mino HD video cameras and a grant. MTV Act, which celebrates young people who take action to make things better, will feature Aspire award winners at http://act.mtv.com/.

Winning youth producers will also have the opportunity to showcase their projects at partner film festivals, art galleries and exhibitions worldwide, including: Seattle International Film Festival, the Sarajevo Film Festival, Digital Arts Magazine, and many more.

As part of the 2012 AYV Aspire Awards, Adobe Foundation has invited MTV to present the MTV ACT award. This award will recognize one young person whose exceptional video content leverages music and provides a clear call to action for the audience to get involved. The MTV ACT award winner will win a trip to MTV studios in New York City, along with the other prizes provided by the Adobe Foundation, Dell and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

"MTV Act is committed to making rock stars of young people who take action and confront the urgent challenges facing the Millennial generation," said Jason Rzepka, vice president of public affairs, MTV. "We're proud to lend our support to the Aspire Awards and amplify the impressive work Adobe Youth Voices does to empower teens worldwide."

About Adobe Youth Voices

Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation's global philanthropic initiative that empowers youth from underserved communities with digital media skills so they can comment on their world, share their ideas and take action on issues that are important to them. By harnessing the energy and insight of youth 13-19 years old, Adobe Youth Voices aims to inspire a dialogue for change in their communities.

The program engages youth to express themselves through documentary videos, photography, print media, radio diaries, animation, Web communications and other media. The Adobe Youth Voices global network now includes more than 800 sites, grantees and organizations in 50 countries, engaging over 150,000 youth and 8,200 educators in schools and out-of-school programs. For more information, visit www.youthvoices.adobe.com.

About the Adobe Foundation

The Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.

Adobe Systems Incorporated
Colleen Rodriguez, 408-536-6803
corodrig@adobe.com
or
Edelman
Taya Varnichpun, 650-762-2827
Taya.varnichpun@edelman.com