'Get Screened' Video Contest Throws a Spotlight on the Importance of Colorectal-Cancer...( SEATTLE Oct. 27 /- Fred Hutchinso...),Health

SEATTLE, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center today announced a video contest called "Get Screened" -- a creative challenge to movie makers to help shine a spotlight on the importance of colorectal-cancer screening. The contest is part of the Hutchinson Center's ongoing awareness campaign -- "Your colon. Your life. Your call." -- to increase colon-cancer screening rates and reduce deaths from the disease in Washington state.

Colon cancer is the third most-commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. An estimated 49,960 Americans, including 940 Washington state residents, will die of the disease this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Most of these deaths could be prevented if the disease were caught early. We're launching this video contest to help increase awareness about the importance of early detection and motivate people to get screened," said Lee Hartwell, Ph.D., president and director of the Hutchinson Center.

The contest is open to movie makers age 18 and older. Film or video submissions must be either 30 seconds or 60 seconds in length and can be in any style or genre, including animation, drama, still art, imagery, comedy or documentary. Entries will be judged on five criteria: originality, creativity, concept, information and overall presentation. All entries are due by Jan. 15, 2009.

The top 15 entries will be posted to YouTube.com in February and the public will be allowed to view each finalist's submission and to post comments. Each finalist will be evaluated by a panel of celebrity judges.

In mid-March five winning entries will be announced: one grand prize ($2,500), two first-runners-up ($1,000) and two second-runners-up ($500). The winning videos and finalists will also be posted on the campaign Web site and be screened at a public event.
The winning videos will incorporate some or all of the following messages
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