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Some of the most inspiring work for us, coming out of Planet in Focus, is from the bright minds of children.

On October 17th at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, we were drawn to the Green Sprouts! Film festival, a small offshoot of the larger Planet in Focus film festival, directed by and for youth. Every short told a different story from a different perspective, many hailing from various parts of the world.

What struck us most and strung every film together was a burgeoning hope for change, a hope that is sprouting globally. These youth are helping spread their messages across the world through their beautiful works of art and film, sprouting change wherever they live. Find out how you can sprout change in your community.

Here are a few of the videos we caught at the festival:

Help Mary Save Coral

by Miranda Anderson

Little Miranda Anderson is only in elementary school, but her information-packed mini-doc taught us a lot about the global extinctions of coral reefs. She profiles Dr. Mary Hagedorn, a marine biologist and innovator who is freezing sperm from corals and preserving them for times of need.

The film exemplifies the transformative power of film, and the unwavering abilities of a child to spread hope for change. The film was narrated by, shot by, and directed by Miranda. You can read more about Dr. Mary’s work here.

Tiny Footprints Make a Big Difference

by Wildwood Elementary School

Though not entirely produced by children, this film is all about them. At the Wildwood Elementary School in Calgary, Alberta, kids are making a huge change by implementing waste-friendly practices.

Practicing daily litter-less lunches, recycling, and composting, these kids taught us that simple acts add up to big changes. In the making of the film, the children became photographers, videographers, and reporters, interviewing high profile community members. Not surprisingly, it won the Peoples’ Choice Award at the Calgary Film Festival.

Backwater

by Artashavan-Saghmosavan Sunchild Eco Club

This lovely Armenian short reminded us that environmental disasters and the human impacts are global in scale. The short was produced in association with SunChild, a group that helps youth tell their environmental stories and incite change in their communities.

It tells a tale of a stream lost to pollution and degradation, focusing on how its loss impacts the youth that live there; from skin ailments to missed childhood adventures, the story of this Armenian waterway is one that many can relate to, and many hope to change.

Remember – in the battle to save the planet, youth can sprout change: Share stories of young people you know creating positive change, by entering  our contest, and you’ll be eligible to win a prize, including being featured on TV as our next GreenHero! Contest details and more information can be found here.

GreenHeroes.tv is all about saving the planet, one story at a time. Do you have a great story to tell about how you’re helping to make the world a greener place? Enter the contest to nominate a friend or yourself – you could be one of Canada’s next GreenHeroes!

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