Top row from left, **Curran Randhawa** (A Dark Future), **Chloe Ban** (Black Tide), and **Riley Adler** (A Dark Future). Middle row from left, **Janelle Lim** (A Dark Future), **Dylan Wilson** (A Dark Future) and **Laura Malatos** (Throwaway Living). Third row from left, **Mason Mirabile** (Monarchs in Motion), **Helen Sun** (Throwaway Living), **Saron Bahre** (If I Could). Fourth row, **Arfiyan Dewa Purnama** (Two Level House) and **Bohdana Bihdan** (Ocean Monologue).

By Lisa Biehle Files

During the past year, One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest received 400 submissions from 55 countries and 36 states. Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, and United Kingdom will be represented among top winners, along with the U.S. states of California, Florida, Illinois, and Virginia. The Global Awards Celebration will take place at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in person at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., in Chicago, or online virtually anywhere in the world. A special online screening for those in Asia/ Pacific is also available.

Adam Joel of Aggressively Compassionate will host this special event, introducing the winners before their films premiere.

Reserve Tickets Here

“Once again there is a variety of wonderful films, from emotional and poignant to humorous and hopeful,” said Founding Director Sue Crothers. “From environmental justice, to appreciating the beauty of our environment, these films tell us that we are all responsible for where we are but also for where we can be. Change is possible!”

The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest asks students from age 8 to 25 to create a 3- to 8-minute environmental film that inspires change or action. Animated or stop-motion films can be a minimum of 45 seconds long. The deadline each year is June 25, which gives individuals and school groups the entire academic year to submit their film projects.

The call for entries for 2025 will open soon on Film Freeway here:

Submit on Film Freeway

Beginning in January 2025, a jury of 31 film and/or environmental experts started evaluating 18 films each, on average (learn more about our jury here). Final contest results are below:

SALLY STOVALL AWARD FOR CREATIVITY (TIE) +
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AWARD from BEYOND PLASTICS
“Throwaway Living” (4 min)
$500 + $500 matching gift donated to Plastic Pollution Coalition and Beyond Plastics
$500 EAA Award from Beyond Plastics

HELEN SUN AND LAURA MALATOS
Graduate, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
Graduate, New York Film Academy, Los Angeles, CA

In the 4-minute film “Throwaway Living,” a 1950s housewife extolls the convenience of using plastic plates and silverware, wrapping sandwiches in plastic, and diapering babies with disposables. Unfortunately, an unsettling phone call from the future, warning her to stop promoting plastic, goes unheeded.

Write Helen and Laura in their submission: “Our short film ‘Throwaway Living’ is a farcical satire, inspired by real post-war advertisements that heavily pushed plastic as the new way of living. Looking back on them through the lens of today’s plastic pollution catastrophe, they’re both absurd and frightening. We made this film to emphasize this tragically pivotal corporation-driven push while shining a light on the current plastic crisis. . . . But as with most of our work, we wanted to package this heavy topic into colorful entertainment and dark comedy to invite more people into this important conversation.”

SALLY STOVALL AWARD FOR CREATIVITY (TIE)
“Ocean Monologue” (3 min)
$500 Scholarship + $500 matching gift donated to Greenpeace Australia Pacific

BOHDANA BIHDAN
Freshman, Arts University, Plymouth, England
Originally from Ukraine

In the 3-minute film, “Ocean Monologue,” a bruised woman in a flowing blue dress personifies the ocean. The AI narrator talks about the callousness of humanity, how we mistreat the ocean/woman with impunity, while she pushes away plastic, fishing nets, and black oil. Ultimately, says the narrator, the ocean and humanity are connected and will live and die together.

Writes Bohdana in her submission: “In my video project, I want to explore the topic of ocean pollution through the lens of violence against women, showing how these two global issues reveal a deeper relationship of neglect and aggression to the embodiment of what gives a life. I intend to show that the roots of environmental neglect and violence against women stem from the same source: a lack of respect for life and human dignity.”

POST-GRAD AWARD
“Two Level House” (5 min)
$1,000 to keep + $1,000 matching gift donated to Plastic Pollution Coalition

ARFIYAN DEWA PURNAMA
Graduate, Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The 5-minute film “Two Level House” is a poignant depiction of a mother and daughter who live next to a landfill in Indonesia. Daughter Della plans to excel in school in order to eventually purchase a two-story house, but her health is precarious.

“’Two-Level house’ teaches us how important a healthy environment is for children, the future generations of the world who dream of making others happy,” writes Arfiyan in his contest entry.

Arfiyan studied film at the Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta, where he won best editor and best cinematographer at the Independent Film Festival. In the creative industry, he is actively involved in organizing arts events, performances, and participating in video competitions, accumulating more than 15 wins from 2017 to the present.

UNIVERSITY LEVEL AWARD
“Understorey” (7 min)
$1,000 Scholarship + $1,000 matching gift donated to Rainforest Trust

CLAIRE RIVERLAND, LILY NEWCOMBE, ISABELLA SANDERSON, SPENCER CAMERON
Seniors/Juniors, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia

Four Australian students traveled to Malaysia to create the 7-minute film “Understorey,” about conserving the rainforest in Borneo. They interviewed engaging experts: tour guides Bob Zakaria and Ismadi Bako, and World Wildlife Fund Malaysia’s Cynthia Chin, as well as two others. Close up views show the range of life they saw within the rainforest, from frogs to moths to orangutans.

In their entry, the filmmakers wrote: “Protecting wildlife, preserving nature and developing an appreciation for the environment at a young age is crucial to ensuring conservation efforts proceed. The first step in conservation is making people care about our planet’s health, and we hope ‘Understorey’ inspires its audiences by showing them what we still have left to protect.”

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AWARD from JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE
“If I could.” (4 min)
$500 EAA Award from JGI

SARON BAHRE
Sophomore, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Saron’s 4-minute film “If I could.” is written from the perspective of a student 100 years from now who looks back and mourns the accumulation of plastic waste along with the loss of animals, plants, and rivers, due to a warming planet. Saron, who narrates the film, imagines what would be, if she could go back in time.

She writes in her submission: “This contest and the film I made have reminded me of the power of art and advocacy; they not only coexist, but amplify one another, and are vital. I enter this contest to share my voice and my story, to share my art and writing, and to contribute to something bigger than myself.”

ANIMATION AWARD
“Black Tide” (3.5 min)
$1,000 + $1,000 matching gift donated to Earthjustice

CHLOE BAN
Grade 12, Crescenta Valley High School, La Crescenta, CA

Chloe uses simple, black, white, and red text and graphics to convey urgency in her 3.5-minute film “Black Tide,” about the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as other oil spills. The tense soundtrack matches the onscreen action with the percussive tap-tap of typing throughout. For example, when explaining the cause of the explosion, Chloe moves text in a narrow space upward on the screen to a horizontal line, visually mimicking the surge of natural gas that traveled to the platform.

For Chloe, creativity and activism go hand in hand. In her contest submission, she writes, “Spreading awareness through video editing and film is a great way raise awareness about important issues.”

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
“The Kiribati Project” (3 projects combined) (5 min)

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
Loyola University Chicago students Michael Rogowski, Taylor Zielenbach, Robert Kennedy, and Sanjay Numbiar, alongside Kiribati youth Burangke Tebiri, Ivy Titebe, Kiatoa Uereti, Mataele Lagafaoa, Michael Motee, Rotia Uaborau, Salee Iotebwaa, Tiaon Toauriri, Tiein Taebo, and Tooma Antonio, guided by Professor John C.P. Goheen, collaborated on a feature documentary film set to be released in early 2025.

In May and June 2024, a group of filmmakers from Loyola University Chicago traveled to the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, a place threatened by rising seas and a changing climate. The homes, culture, and language of this nation’s people are at risk. Loyola’s mission was to introduce Kiribati youth to the art of video documentary storytelling, empowering them to share their narratives with a global audience. You will see a 5-minute compilation of three films: “Matael’s Story,” “Turn Down the Noise,” and “A Tale from Kiribati.” These films are just a small sample of the in-depth feature documentary directed by Professor John Goheen. They reflect the impactful work the Kiribati youth and their mentors were able to produce during their time together.

To learn more, visit The Kiribati Project.

HIGH SCHOOL AWARD
“A Dark Future” (5 min)
$350 to keep + $350 matching gift donated to Dark Sky International

RILEY ADLER, CURRAN RANDHAWA, DYLAN WILSON, JANELLE LIM
Grade 11, Saratoga High School, Saratoga, CA
(starting grade 12 soon)

From left, Curran Randhawa, Janelle Lim, Dylan Wilson, and Riley Adler

The 5-minute documentary “A Dark Future," filmed and produced by a team of high school students, addresses the impacts of light pollution on humans and wildlife. The filmmakers interview Jane Mio, a freelance environmentalist; Steven Lockley, a Harvard Associate Professor; and Andy Kreyche, the Vice President of Dark Sky International Santa Cruz Chapter.

Prof. Lockley asserts that too much light disrupts Circadian rhythm in humans. Regarding wildlife, the documentary observes how light pollution disrupts navigation, predation, sleep cycles, foraging instincts, reproduction, and other habits that species rely on for their survival.

“A Dark Future” ends with a clear call to action with the hope that people will evaluate their outdoor and indoor light usage to create “a darker planet and a brighter future.”

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD +
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AWARD from
WEST COOK WILD ONES
“Monarchs in Motion” (8 min)
$200 to keep + $200 matching gift donated to World Wildlife Fund
$500 EAA Award from West Cook Wild Ones

MASON MIRABILE
Grade 8, Williamsburg Middle School, Arlington, VA
(starting Grade 9 soon)

In the 8-minute film “Monarchs in Motion,” filmmaker Mason visits Michoacán, Mexico, where millions of monarch butterflies congregate in Oyamel fir forests for the winter as part of their annual migration. Mason interviews Charlie Reinertsen, a biologist and ecotourism guide as well as Monica Echeverria, a representative for the World Wildlife Fund, to convey their expert thoughts about conservation and action.

Monarchs migrate from Canada to Mexico in a circular migration pattern similar to birds; planting milkweed for their caterpillars is crucial because this is the only plant they will consume. Comments Reinertsen: “Monarchs are a charismatic species, and that captures the imagination of people; it inspires people to take action. We as people can come together across boundaries, across neighborhoods and cities and countries, and we can take care of this species we live alongside in this one earth, this one home.”

This is Mason’s fourth film to be recognized by the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest; he will begin high school this fall at College du Leman in Geneva, Switzerland, after having lived in Arlington, Va., for nine years.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AWARD
“The Most Wonderful Choice of the Year” (4 min)
$100 to keep + $100 matching gift donated to Clean Air Task Force

GRADES 4 and 5 MAGTV STUDENTS
Magnolia Elementary School, Carlsbad, CA
(starting Grades 5 and 6 soon)

In the 4-minute film “The Most Wonderful Choice of the Year,” Dad Carl makes the mistake of gifting his family with a gas-powered vehicle, much to the dismay of family, friends, and neighbors, who suddenly appear from all corners to voice their discontent. Thankfully, Carl can magically go back in time to start over again by gifting his family a greener option.

Marco Aguilo, Rory Ballard, Matthew Johnson-Serra, Khloe Fischer, Nate Friesen, Kara Jacinto, Isla Becker, Justin Araya, Zoe Mueller, Niko Novitchenko, Deisy Carrillo, Knox Ecker, Charlotte Carpenter, Kenley Taylor, Remy Gunn, Molly Ward, Lucy Luria, Sadie Boyle, Henry Snyder, Quinn David, Vivi Oziel, Olivia Christensen, Sophie Weenig, and Itzel Mas were a part of the MagTV program at Magnolia Elementary School. Guided by father and news anchor Andrew Luria, the students learned storytelling, editing, anchoring, reporting and photography. This is MagTVs second year in a row to win the top elementary school prize.

Thank you to our jury of 31 experts in sustainability and film. Learn more here.

An article about One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Honorable Mention Winners is hot off the presses here and will appear in the September eNews. They are:

Post-Grad
Rachmat Kurniawan Idrus and Azyd Aqsha Madani, “The Atlantis Mussels,” Indonesia
Mayank Mekala, “Baton” California

Animation
Pablo Diaz De Leon Hicks, “The Blue Stag,” California
Agata Zych, “Anthropocene,” Poland

University
Jack Hinz, “Foundation,” Australia
Rohit Rajendra, “Urbanization,” India

High School
Arthur Cech, “There Was a Cedar Forest,” France and Morocco
Ivy Tucker, “Tipping Point,” Australia

Middle School
Laralyn Geh, “Stop Food Wastage! Let's Create a Sustainable Environment,” Malaysia
Edith Zhou Huffman, “Magicicada,” Illinois

Elementary School
Students of Multi-Media Project Escola Parque, “Tigers in Danger,” Brazil

Reserve Tickets Here

Lisa Files