Hope for Climate & Social Justice
Development Program
Students Pointing the Way to Hope
The Elfenworks Student Social and Climate Justice Award at Campus Movie Fest has provided students with the opportunity to make their voices heard on issues they care deeply about for decades (our first Grand Finale attendance was in '07). Prior to a shift to a script submission format, students from across the country submitted thousands of short films to our category for consideration. Winners were selected by CMF in consultation with the Elfenworks Foundation and announced at annual grand finales by celebrity presenters including Gabouray Sidibe (2011), Nate Parker (2012), Larry Wilmore (2013), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (2014), Elijah Kelley (2015), Thomas E. Ackerman (2017), and Jeff Goldblum (2021). When Virgin Airlines was flying, our winners were there for passengers to enjoy. There were over a million views for our category alone. Many of these winning films are timeless, as you will see when you click on our links, below.
When CMF went largely online, we switched to a script submission format, with students providing an original content pitch. Through the Elfenworks Hope for Climate and Social Justice Development Program, storytellers would win mentorship help from film professionals and funds (a $10K stipend) to bring their short films to life, with one final winner receiving an additional $2,000 prize. Our four criteria for judging submissions: 1) Compelling (point the way towards hope in a memorable and stirring way); 2) Salient (deeply important to today's landscape and culture); 3) Enduring (non-partisan, non-political, and evergreen) and 4) Feasible (not reliant on big budgets, famous faces, or complex logistics). They would be grounded in a current issue involving climate justice or how climate change intersects with social justice, presenting it in a way that left the audience feeling hopeful. While not dismissing the urgency, they would shed light on critical issues, point the way to hope, helping lift our spirits, spark hope, inspire positive action, all in a way that would stand the test of time.
2026 Winning Film
Two student films are currently underway. Filming has wrapped up. Check back for updates.
2025 Winning Film, Hallogreen
When a child insists on buying a new Halloween costume, his grandmother is forced to come out of retirement as a seamstress and recycle costumes and decorations for her grandson. Congratulations to Zayan Agha for "Hallogreen," inspiring us with this story of upcycling clothing and the small changes we can all make in our lives!
2024 Winning Film, We Stellar Remnants
We Stellar Remnants follows Deacon, a far future spaceman, as he rediscovers a depleted, dying Earth. Congratulations to Ben Senior for submitting the winning treatment.
2023 Winning Film, Foreverglades
Watch the 2023 winning feature Foreverglades, and experience a kid in between foster homes finding hope in the magical, disappearing everglades outside Miami. Congratulations to Brittany Perry for submitting the winning treatment and working closely with Campus Movie Fest to create this amazing journey.
2022 Winning Film, Treasure
We are excited to bring you the 2022 winning feature. Treasure is a heartfelt effort that arose from the lived experience of screenwriter Synnovia Ashe. It endearingly explores our throwaway culture and its effects, asking what it might feel like to be part of what was thrown away. Taking the object's point of view, a profound truth is captured in a way that is so charming and delightful, it is sure to inspire the viewer to reconsider, reuse, repurpose and reduce, rather than waste, resources. Learn more about it here [PDF].
Treasure - Press Release PDF2021 Winning Films
From 2010 through 2021, students submitted completed films. Look at their wonderful creations:
2021 Honorable Mentions
Playlist of Previous Winners
Just press play to start a playlist of all previous winners, starting with the most recent.