Criticizing the Bush administration has propelled Ryan Doud, a senior in film studies, into the semifinals of the nationally based short film competition Film Your Issue.

Doud’s 60-second film, “Democracy,” is a fake commercial that portrays democracy as a product marketed as a cure for any country suffering from tyranny or terrorism. He originally created the project for a film production class, but later submitted it to the competition after some convincing from a friend.

“I’ve gotten responses from people that have said they liked it and voted for it,” Doud said.

The FYI film competition encouraged young Americans to create a 30-to-60-second film about an issue or topic important to them. Whether the film moves on to the final depends on the number of votes it receives from viewers and votes from a panel of judges that includes actor George Clooney and former news anchor Walter Cronkite.

The film can be viewed and voted for at www.msnbc.com or www.filmyourissues.com .

If Doud wins, he will receive an internship with Disney.