Contests

Photography Contest #LaHistoriaDetrás

Official Photography Contest Rules

U.S. Embassy Cuba

Contest Sponsor
U.S. Embassy Cuba’s #LaHistoriaDetrás Photography Contest is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy Cuba (the “Contest Sponsor”).

Platform(s)
This photo contest is administered through Instagram. Instagram is not a partner in the administration of the contest. Contestants are reminded that by entering the contest and uploading content to Instagram, they are bound by Instagram’s terms of service and any agreements with Instagram contained therein.

How to enter?
Each contestant may submit 1 photo with its explanatory text (the submission, the story behind…) that fits the theme and meets all the requested requirements.
The submission must be sent to: havanamedia@state.gov with the subject line “La historia detrás” Contest. Participants must include in the email the title of the work, as well as their contact information (full name, telephone, postal address, and email). If the contestant wishes to remain anonymous, instead of his/her name, he/she should send a nickname as user ID.
Once submitted, the entry is considered final and cannot be modified, edited, or replaced.
Participation in this contest is considered acceptance of these Official Contest Rules.
The photograph(s) must be original and may be digital or analog, and only taken by the entrant.
The contest starts from (12/05/2022) and closes on (12/16/2022) at (16:00). The winners will be announced on the U.S. Embassy’s Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts on (12/19/2022).

Suitability

Contestants must be Cuban citizens residing in Cuba and at least 18 years of age on the date of their participation in the competition. U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the U.S. are not eligible to compete.
The person submitting the entry will be considered an entrant and will be the only person eligible to compete for the prize. Organizations are not eligible to compete for the award, either as entities, or through representation of an individual. To be eligible for the award, the entrant must provide complete and accurate information.
The following individuals are ineligible to enter the contest: employees, grantees, directors and officers of the contest sponsors, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or the United States Government; or any employee, grantee, director or officer of any agency, company or entity involved in the administration, advertising, evaluation, creation, development, execution and/or fulfillment of this contest; and their immediate family members defined as spouse, recognized partner, parent, child, sibling and spouse and affinity relatives thereof and those living in the same household of each such individual.
Once the submission has been accepted for entry into the contest, the entrant’s name (or user ID, if the entrant wishes to remain anonymous) and country may be publicly identified at the entrants’ sole discretion.

Selection of Winners

All submissions are subject to pre-screening by the contest sponsors to ensure compliance with these Official Contest Rules. All submissions made without observing compliance will not be published. Contest sponsors reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to verify in the final analysis whether a potential finalist’s or potential winner’s submission has fully complied with these Official Contest Rules prior to publication on the contest site, award of prize, recognition as a winner, etc.
Judges: Winners will be selected by popular vote on Instagram. The 3 posts/stories that get the most likes on Instagram would be the winners.

The Embassy will share on its Instagram highlighted stories the images received, made by embassy officials, for our followers to vote for the Popularity Award.

Winners: Each winner or finalist is required to sign and return to the contest sponsors a statement of eligibility and a disclaimer/publicity release and provide a brief biography (if applicable) and a brief statement about the submission; otherwise, the winner or finalist will not be eligible for any of the prizes. If the contest sponsors are unable to contact a potential winner, this may result in disqualification or selection of another winner from among all remaining eligible submissions.

The disclaimer/publicity release must state that the entrant authorizes the U.S. Embassy in Cuba to publish the image and associated text and understands that in no event shall the U.S. Embassy in Cuba be liable for any damages, errors, omissions, inaccuracies or illegality relating to such image and information submitted to the contest, or arising out of the contest, or any other fact regarding images, information or transactions provided, downloaded, used, or their accuracy, correctness or delay, even if the U.S. Embassy in Cuba or its representatives, officers and employees have been advised of the possibility of such damages, errors, omissions or other inaccuracies or illegality. Further, that the entrant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, its officers, employees and any third party, from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, resulting from any violation of the contest rules (including negligent or wrongful conduct) by the entrant or any other person on its behalf.

Winners and finalists will be notified via the email address they provided in the submission or by phone call or text. Winners and finalists may be announced on the Embassy website and on social media pages. Winners and finalists may choose to use an alias instead of their own name and may request that other identifying information not be disclosed.

Prize(s)
Three winners will receive a gift bag from the U.S. Embassy, the contents of which may vary, but could include electronics, books, DVDs, T-shirts, pins, souvenirs, or English language learning add-ons.
Winning photographs will be displayed on the U.S. Embassy in Cuba social media along with explanatory text (the text may be subject to style correction).
Winners will have to confirm acceptance of the prize in an e-mail response or telephone call or text to the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy within three calendar days. If acceptance is not confirmed by the required date, the contest sponsors reserve the right to select another winner.
Each winner must provide a valid physical mailing address to which the prize may be sent, if any. Contest Sponsors are not responsible for any problems related to the shipment of any prize, including, but not limited to, theft, delay, damage, or accidental destruction/loss by the carrier. If a winner fails to provide a valid physical mailing address, the Contest Sponsors reserve the right to select an alternate winner.
Any unused portion of the prize is not transferable, convertible, or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. All taxes on or in connection with any prize, and the consequences of the declaration thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of the winner.

Liability and Rights

Contest Sponsor does not endorse the submissions or messages expressed in the contest, and contest sponsors expressly disclaim all liability in connection with any images submitted, including any differences between contributors related to a submission.
The Contest and its sponsors do not permit copyright infringing activities or violation of any other intellectual property rights, and the Contest Sponsors reserve the right to remove and disqualify any Submission that they deem to be in violation of third-party copyrights or other intellectual property rights.
Contestants retain sole ownership of their original work. The submission remains the intellectual property of the contestant, and the contest sponsors and the U.S. Government make no copyright claim as to the work of any person entering the contest. Contestants specifically agree to give the contest sponsors permission to use all content submitted for judging the contest. Finalists and winners will be required to grant the contest sponsors proper attribution through any means they deem appropriate, a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works thereof, and display the submission in any medial format and through any media channels in perpetuity in connection with the activities and operations of the contest.
Entrants assume sole responsibility for the contest entry and the material contained therein, and for any consequences of submission or publication thereof.
Contest Sponsors reserve the right at any time to verify the validity of entries and entrants and to disqualify any entrant or entry deemed not to follow these Official Contest Rules. In addition, the Contest Sponsor reserve the right to request additional documentation, in their sole and absolute discretion, to verify eligibility and compliance with these Official Contest Rules.
If a prize or any part thereof is unavailable, the Contest Sponsors, in their sole discretion, reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value or specification.
Contest Sponsor reserves the right, at any time and in their sole discretion, to disqualify or deem ineligible any person they reasonably believe i) has violated the Official Contest Rules; ii) has violated the terms of use of the Platform; or iii) is acting in bad faith, or in an unethical or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, mistreat, threaten, or harass any other person.

If this contest is interfered with or tampered with in any way by a contestant, or by a person acting on behalf of a contestant, or if, as a result of such interference, the contest is not capable of being reasonably conducted in the manner intended by the Contest Sponsor, the Contest Sponsor reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any contestant who interferes and/or to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the contest.

Contest Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the contest at their discretion for any reason.
Contestant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Contest Sponsor, their parent, subsidiaries, affiliates and affiliated companies, officers, directors, employees, interns and agents, against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debts, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising out of i) violation of these Official Contest Rules; (ii) infringement of any third party right, including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, intellectual property, privacy, publicity or other proprietary right in connection with the Contest; or (iii) any other claim that a Contest Submission has caused any damage, including financial damage, to any third party. This indemnification and hold harmless obligations shall survive indefinitely after the conclusion of the contest.
The conduct, judging, and awarding of prizes shall be conducted in full compliance with the relevant laws of Cuba and the U.S. In the event of a conflict between U.S. and Cuban law, U.S. law shall apply.
Contest Sponsor and the U.S. Government will take reasonable steps to protect the privacy data, personally identifiable information, and other sensitive data of contestants. Contact information provided by contestants may be retained by the U.S. Embassy in Havana and may be used to contact contestants for other purposes in the future. This information may be shared with the contest co-sponsor and/or made available to third parties, to the extent permitted by law.
Contest Sponsor assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage resulting from any user’s participation in entering or attempting to enter the contest or for the ability or inability to upload, download or otherwise access any information in connection with participation in the contest. Contest Sponsor assumes no responsibility for technical problems or technical failures arising in connection with the operation of the contest, including: hardware and software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, cable, satellite or electronic network, wireless or Internet connection or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, receivers or providers; garbled, garbled or erroneous transmissions of data; failed transmissions of any electronic messages sent or received; lost, delayed, late or intercepted transmissions of electronic messages; inaccessibility of the contest site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or on the contest site; human or non-human intervention in contest activities, including, without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, viruses, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the contest; or loss, misconduct, misdirection, misdirection, miscount, rerouting, inaccessibility or unavailability of an e-mail account used in connection with the contest.
Use of the contest site is at the user’s own risk. Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any personal injury, property damage or loss of any kind to computer equipment resulting from participation in the Contest, use of the Contest Site or downloading information from the Contest Site. By entering the contest, the entrant releases the contest sponsors from all claims arising out of or related to such entrant’s participation in the contest, either directly or indirectly.
Contest Sponsor is not responsible if any part of the contest is cancelled or delayed due to weather, fire, strikes, acts of war or terrorism, or any other reason.

Media Literacy Contest #LaVerdadImporta

Official Trivia Contest Rules

U.S. Embassy Cuba

Contest Sponsors[1]
U.S. Embassy Cuba’s #LaVerdadImporta Media Literacy Contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy Cuba (the “Contest Sponsors”).

Description of the Contest
This contest is intended to promote awareness of media influence and create an active stance towards both consuming and creating media. The purpose of media literacy education is to help individuals of all ages develop the habits of inquiry and skills of expression that they need to be critical thinkers, effective communicators, and active citizens in today’s world.
The U.S. Embassy Havana’s Twitter account will post one trivia question each day for 10 business days beginning May 12, 2022, until May 25, 2022. FIVE winners will be randomly selected from all participants who correctly answered the trivia question each day and prior to the next question being published. Answers submitted following the publication of the following day’s question will not be considered eligible.
Only participants aged 18 and over may participate.
FIVE winners who answer each trivia question correctly every day for 10 business days will receive an Embassy Swag Bag!*
*contents may vary
(See the “Eligibility” section below to find out who is eligible to be a contestant.)

Platform(s)
This trivia contest is administered through Twitter/Facebook. Twitter/Facebook is not a partner in the administration of the contest. Contestants are reminded that by participating in the contest and uploading content to Twitter/Facebook, they are bound by Twitter’s/Facebook’s Terms of Service and any agreements with Twitter/Facebook contained therein.

How to Enter
Provide an answer to the posed trivia question by tweeting a reply.
Participation in this contest is deemed as acceptance of these Official Contest Rules.
The contest commences May 12, 2022 at 10AM Eastern Time. Entries must be submitted within 24 hours before the follow trivia question is posted. Judging begins on May 26, 2022 and ends of May 31, 2022. Winners will be announced on the U.S. Embassy Twitter and Facebook accounts on June 1, 2022.

Content Requirements

Submissions must not contain obscenity, explicit sexual material, nudity, profanity, graphic violence, calls or incitement to violence, commercial solicitation or commercial promotion. Submissions must conform to local law and must not contain content or images that could be considered abusive, inflammatory, denigrating, or disrespectful to any of the Contest Sponsors, or to any groups, individuals or institutions. Submissions must adhere both in appearance and in fact to the norms of civil discourse. In other words, the content of all submissions must be suitable for a global, public audience.
Contest Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify, at their sole and absolute discretion, any submission that does not adhere to these criteria and to the intent and substance of these Official Contest Rules.
In the event of any question or difference of views regarding compliance with, interpretation, or application of these content requirements or other provisions of these Official Contest Rules, Contest Sponsors reserve the exclusive right to resolve such questions or differences of views in their sole discretion.

Eligibility

Contestants must be at least 18 years old on the date of entry into the contest. Contestants must be residents of Cuba and may not be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
The individual submitting the entry will be considered the contestant and will be the only individual eligible to compete for the prize. Organizations are not eligible to compete for the prize, either as an entity, or through representation by an individual. In order to be eligible for the prize, the contestant must provide complete and accurate information.
The following individuals are not eligible to participate in the contest: Employees, interns, directors, and officers of the Contest Sponsors, Twitter, Facebook, or the U.S. Government; or any employee, interns, directors, or officers of any agencies, companies, or entities involved in the administration, advertising, judging, creation, development, execution, and/or fulfillment of this contest; and the immediate family members (defined as spouse, recognized partner, parent, child, sibling, and spouse or “step” of each) and those living in the same household of each such individual.
Once a submission has been accepted for entry into the contest, the contestant’s name (or User ID, if the contestant wishes to remain anonymous) and country may be publicly identified at the sole discretion of the contestant.

Selection of Winners
Five [ 5 ] winners will be chosen at random from those who responded correctly to the trivia questions daily and consecutively for 10 business days. Responses submitted after publication of the next trivia question will not be considered. Winners will be contacted via direct message. The inability of Contest Sponsors to contact a potential winner may result in disqualification and/or selection of an alternate winner from among all remaining eligible submissions.

Prize(s)
Five winners will receive a U.S. Embassy Swag Bag, contents of which may vary but could include electronics, books, DVDs, T-shirts, pins, souvenirs, or supplements to English language learning.

Each winner must provide a valid physical mailing address where a prize, if any, is to be shipped. Contest Sponsors are not responsible for any problems related to the shipping of any prize, including, but not limited to, theft, delay, damage, or destruction/accidental loss by the shipping carrier. If a winner does not provide a valid physical mailing address, then the Contest Sponsors reserve the right to select an alternative winner.
Any unused portion of the prize is not transferable, convertible, or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. All taxes on or in connection with any prize, and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of the winner.

Liability and Rights

Contest Sponsors reserve the right at any time, to verify the validity of entries and of contestants and to disqualify any contestant or entry deemed not in compliance with these Official Contest Rules. Contest Sponsors also reserve the right to request further documentation, at their sole and absolute discretion, to verify eligibility and compliance with these Official Contest Rules.
If a prize or any portion thereof is unavailable, Contest Sponsors, in their sole discretion, reserve the right to substitute the prize with another prize of equal or greater value and/or specification.
If this contest is interfered or tampered with in any way by a contestant, or a person acting on the contestant’s behalf, or, if, as a consequence of such interference, the contest is not capable of being reasonably conducted in the manner anticipated by Contest Sponsors, the Contest Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion to disqualify any interfering contestant and/or modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the contest.
Contest Sponsors reserve the right, at any time and in their sole discretion, to disqualify and/or deem ineligible any individual who they reasonably believe (i) has violated the Official Contest Rules; (ii) has violated the terms of use of platform, or (iii) is acting in a bad faith, or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.
Contest Sponsors reserve the right to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the contest at their discretion for any reason.
Contestant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Contest Sponsors, their parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, officers, directors, employees, interns, and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debts, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees) arising from (I) violation of these Official Contest Rules; (ii) violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, trademark, intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other proprietary right in connection with the contest; or (iii) any claim that a contest submission caused any harm, including financial, to any third party. These indemnification and hold harmless obligations will survive indefinitely beyond the conclusion of the contest.
The conduct, judging, and awarding of prizes will be carried out in full compliance with applicable U.S. law and host country law. In the event of a conflict between U.S. law and host country law, U.S. law shall apply.
Contest Sponsors and the U.S. Government will take reasonable measures to protect privacy data, personally identifiable information, and other sensitive data of contestants. Contact information provided by contestants may be stored by the U.S. Embassy in Havana and may be used to contact contestants for other purposes in the future. This information may be shared with the co-sponsor of the contest and/or be made available to third parties, to the extent permitted by law.
Contest Sponsors assume no liability or responsibility for any loss or harm resulting from any user’s participation in or attempt to participate in the contest or ability or inability to upload, download, or otherwise access any information in connection with participating in the contest. Contest Sponsors assume no responsibility or liability for technical problems, or technical malfunctions arising in connection with the operation of the contest, including: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity, or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any email transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted email transmissions; inaccessibility of the contest site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or the contest site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the contest.
Use of contest site is at user’s own risk. Contest Sponsors are not responsible for any personal injury, property damage, or losses of any kind which may be sustained to computer equipment resulting from participation in the contest, use of the contest site or the downloading of information from the contest site. By participating in the contest, the contestant releases Contest Sponsors from any and all claims arising from or relating to such contestant’s participation in the contest, whether directly or indirectly.

Contest Sponsors are not liable in the event that any portion of the contest is cancelled or delayed due to weather, fire, strike, acts of war or terrorism, or any other reason.

[1] Throughout the contest rules, the term “sponsors” is used to represent either single or multiple sponsors, where applicable.