GreenShorts | Southern California

An environmental film competition for Southern California high school students

SoCal high school students: grab your cell phones, video cameras, and laptops — your voice and creativity can change the planet!

The GreenShorts environmental short film contest is a platform to showcase your ideas, commentary, and vision for our city and the world. You may submit one short film for each category. Films must be less than 3 minutes long — creative liberty is encouraged! Films are encouraged to feature the Southern California area.  

The deadline to submit is April 23, 2021.

Film Submission Categories

Create your film about one of these categories! Remember, your film should be 2-3 minutes long!  Some filmmaking resources you can use may be found below. 

Climate Trailblazers

Climate Trailblazers

Activists or communities making a positive climate impact
No Justice, No Green

No Justice, No Green

The intersection of environmentalism and social justice issues
Ready, Set, Action!

Ready, Set, Action!

Solutions for the environment and sustainability
Wild California

Wild California

Animals, plants, or natural systems found in the great outdoors
Out of the Box

Out of the Box

Inspired by the environment, let your creativity run wild!
Power Poetry

Power Poetry

Slam poetry about the environmental crisis we face

Awards, Rules, Judging Criteria and Terms

Awards & Prizes

  • 1st Place: $500
  • 2nd Place: $300
  • 3rd place: $150
  • Audience Choice Award: $100

Rules

  • Films should be 2-3 minutes
  • Films may be created by an individual or a team (please be safe and healthy!)
  • Individuals or teams are limited to one film per category
  • Participants must be enrolled in high school and under 19 years old

Judging Criteria

  • Films will be judged on how well they relate to the submitted category.  For example, for the Ready, Set, Action! category, a film that truly discusses solutions to environmental problems will rank higher than a film that only loosely discusses solutions. 
  • Films — both fictional narratives and documentaries — should include scientific facts about the environment and/or sustainability.
  • Fancy equipment, b-roll, and camera moves will not necessarily score you more points.  What’s most important is your film’s overall message.
  • Films will be judged by the content of the film, its ability to educate, inspire, and raise awareness of the film’s chosen topic.

Terms

  • Finalists are required to attend the award ceremony Thursday, June 10, 2021.
  • Through film submission, UCLA IoES is granted the right to use the film for promotional, but not commercial, purposes.
Submit Your Southern California GreenShorts Film

Writing and Production Workshops

Writing and Production Workshops

Writing and Production Workshops

We are partnering with 826la.org and MY HERO Project to host two virtual workshops next year — one on screenwriting and the other on film production.

Further details to be announced.

Get Inspired

My Hero Project

My Hero Project

Our partners at MyHero Project have complied collections of excellent films to inspire your work.

2020 GreenShorts Film Festival Virtual Ceremony

2020 GreenShorts Film Festival Virtual Ceremony

High school students across Southern California and Louisiana submitted 61 short films tackling environmental issues for the 4th annual GreenShorts film competition. We received wonderful, amazing films this year, and it was hard to narrow them down. Winners were announced on June 11th during a virtual ceremony on YouTube Live. Congratulations to all of the winners!

Learn about Film Production

Films must be submitted by April 23, 2021

Sponsors 

We are immensely grateful to the people and organizations whose support ensures the success of this project. The Skyscrape Foundation, along with Tina and John Quinn — your vision and generosity give young scientists and creatives across California a boost forward. Thank you.