The Young Filmmakers Contest celebration started in September with a screening of the top 10 winning films and will continue with an exclusive virtual screening of all seven Honorable Mention films on Saturday, Oct. 24.  This is a chance to see these stories in their entirety and support these young filmmakers whose films were just a hair’s breadth away from a top prize. Tickets are free, but registration is required to receive the link.

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Homeowners interested in sustainability often want eco-friendly smart homes, but face a real tension: upgrades can feel like a choice between disruptive green home remodeling and confusing tech that may not deliver on its promises. The most practical path blends energy-efficient home design with smart home technology benefits, so comfort improves while waste drops in the background. Done well, smart features support everyday habits instead of adding more devices to manage. The payoff is a home that runs cleaner and more predictably.

Travel to Earth’s core, listen to an AI bird translator, discover goats preventing forest fires, and more. View all 10 winning short films from the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, 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.

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OG. Original Gangster. An accolade for the coolest and most “with it” guy or gal on the block. The OG behind the Chicago-based organization “Share Your Soles,” Mona Purdy, was seeking a new headquarters for her expanding non-profit that recycles thousands of hardly-used American sneakers and other shoes discarded for the latest fashion.

The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest (OEYFC) and the Oak Park Illinois Film Festival (OPILFF) are proud to announce a new partnership dedicated to uplifting and showcasing the next generation of filmmakers. 

I recently attended the year-end wrap-up webinar from Our Children’s Trust (OCT), and there’s a lot going on! For those who don’t know, OCT is a nonprofit public interest law firm in Eugene, Oregon, dedicated to securing a healthy atmosphere and safe climate for young people. 

Their federal, state, and international lawsuits push governmental bodies to recognize environmental harms, especially as they affect the health and lives of young people. Every case, win or lose, strengthens the next, empowering the young people who have stepped up to be plaintiffs and building a body of testimony from those plaintiffs and expert witnesses, including public health professionals and  climate scientists. An overarching goal of OCT cases is to clarify the government’s constitutional obligation to protect the environment, thereby ensuring the right to life—yes, right to life (and to liberty and the pursuit of happiness)--of our earth’s young people.