SAN FRANCISCO - Artistic visions of democracy were being lauded on the Internet on Wednesday by the US State Department and partners behind a first-ever Democracy Video Challenge.

The aim of the contest was to have people from around the world create video clips expressing what they think democracy is, according to Jonathan Margolis, assistant secretary of the State Department's bureau of international information programs.

Competition winners were announced Tuesday as the Internet played a vital role in spreading news of protests by Iranians that believe President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thwarted democracy in his claim to re-election.

Contest organizers steered clear of references to developments in Iran, saying that the video competition was launched in September 2008 and that judging and online voting is complete.

"Our winners have taken up their cameras to jumpstart a global conversation about the meaning of democracy," said Directors Guild of America president Michael Apted, who was co-chair of the judging panel.

"Their unique voices, revealed through the art of video, bypass borders and speak to us all about the freedoms that truly matter," Apted said.

Judges selected finalists from more than 900 video clips submitted from 95 countries. Videos could be no longer than three minutes.

Online voting at Google-owned video-sharing website YouTube determined winners from six regions around the world.

Winners were listed as Chansa Tembo from Zambia; Aissa Peñafiel from Philippines; Lukasz Szozda from Poland; Tsering Choden from Nepal; Rodin Hamidi from the United Arab Emirates, and Anna Israel from Brazil.

"Any one of these videos is pretty good, but if you look at a bunch of them together you get a real snapshot of what democracy means around the world," Margolis said.

"What comes through loud and clear is that the best videos are the ones that stop and make you think about what democracy is instead of telling you what it is."

For example, Hamidi's winning video shows a man planting a sapling in a desert, only to have it uprooted by rowdy boys. The video ends with the man calmly returning another day to plant a new sapling.

"The video submissions we were asked to view and judge were both thoughtful and thought provoking," said National Democratic Institute vice president Shari Bryan.

"With entries from India to Iran and Uganda to Uzbekistan, the finalists tackled the difficult task of defining 'what Democracy is' with creativity, ingenuity and inspiration."

Winning video makers will be treated in September to travel to Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, DC, where their works will be screened and they will meet influential politicians and filmmakers.

"The State Department and our partners created the Democracy Video Challenge as an experiment to generate a global conversation," said Judith McHale, US under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs.

"We were impressed by the thoughtfulness and quality of responses to the contest, and we will support and continue to engage in support of the ongoing dialogue among people from around the world on this important topic."

Partners in the contest include NBC Universal film studio, which winners may get to visit.

The videos can be seen online at youtube.com/democracychallenge, and organizers are seeking other venues to "show them off."

"The wide appeal of your truly unique take on democracy across national, ethnic and religious boundaries confirms one of democracy's greatest advantages," contest jury co-chair Hernando de Soto of the Institute for Liberty & Democracy told the winners of what is to be an annual contest.

"The opportunity for ordinary people to express their pers