As I write this (July 2025), the air quality in Chicagoland (where I live) is labeled unhealthy for sensitive groups. In addition, the National Weather Service has issued an “extreme heat watch,” noting that over the next two days, residents can expect dangerously hot conditions with possible heat index values of 105˚ -110˚ . Elsewhere on our planet, devastating tornadoes, floods, forest fires, and extreme heat bring death and destruction, test bodies and spirits.
See a futuristic battle over the last available fresh water resource, peer at wildlife living in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, hear an ironic love song about a polluting power plant, and more. View all 10 winning short films from the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in person at Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago, or online virtually anywhere in the world. Be ready to stretch your imagination and expand your understanding of going green. A special online screening for those in Asia/ Pacific will also be available.
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Sasha-Ann Simons of WBEZ Radio’s Reset interviewed Sue Crothers, Founding Director of the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, along with Michael Rogowski, a student filmmaker from Loyola University Chicago. They talked about the upcoming One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Awards Celebration on Sept. 22, as well as the Environmental Justice Award that Loyola University would receive for “The Kiribati Project.” LISTEN HERE.
The annual One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Global Awards Celebration is gearing up to take place at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, both in person at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., Chicago, Illinois, and online virtually anywhere in the world. Featuring the top 10 winning films from among 400 submissions, this event is the second with global reach since the contest started 12 years ago.
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.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to compete in our Summer Bingo Campaign. Without all of your dedication to not only our contest but the quality of the environment around you we would not have had such a successful month! Now we at One Earth Collective are pleased to announce the winners of all our fabulous prizes!
