JBFC Children’s Environmental Film Challenge

The Jacob Burns Film Center is excited to announce our First Annual Children’s Environmental Film Challenge. Bring storytelling, creativity, and environmental learning together in one exciting project! This is your chance to engage your students in making an environmentally conscious short film or PSA (Public Service Announcement). Students will learn collaboration, visual storytelling, and environmental responsibility—all while having fun. When students have completed their project, they will submit it to the JBFC for review, and then attend a screening to watch their work on the big screen along with other classes’ films!

Sign Up to Participate

PROJECT DETAILS

Grade Level: Students in grades 4, 5, and 6 may participate in this film challenge

Film Length: 5 minutes max (including credits)

Submission Deadline: Projects must be submitted to the JBFC by March 31st, 2026

Screening Date: After submission, the JBFC will host a screening for all participating classes in Spring 2026 (date to be determined)

What You’ll Need 

• A spirit of adventure! This is a fun, interactive, and meaningful cross-curricular project that supports all kinds of learners.
• Recording technology (whatever you have on hand, we’ve found iPhones, Chromebooks, iPads, work really well with this age group)
• Editing software (iMovie, Canva, or similar)
• Groups of up to 6 students per film, but see the example student film Love, Blossom below, for an idea of how a whole class can make one film together
• A role for every student. Once your group chooses a theme, assign roles so everyone can contribute. If you are creating films in a larger group, break your film into smaller parts of acts to ensure each student has a job:
  • Director(s)
  • Script Writer(s)
  • Camera Operator(s)
  • Production Assistant(s) (perfect for students who prefer working independently)
  • Editor(s) (this can be shared across the group)
  • Art Director (design the movie poster if making a film)

No filmmaking experience? No problem! Students don’t need to know anything about making movies to join in. Still, a little practice with the basics can go a long way. Here are a few simple skills that will help them feel confident before jumping into production:

• Recording Basics – how to start and stop a camera (phone, tablet, or Chromebook).
• Shot Types – close-up, medium, and wide shots.
• Camera Moves – pan, tilt, zoom, or track.
• Story Structure – every good story has a beginning, middle, and end.
• Editing Essentials – trimming and rearranging clips, and adding sounds or music.

Ready to start working? Click the button below to officially sign up for the film challenge! Once registered, the JBFC Education Team will be in touch with more information and resources.

Sign Up to Participate

For more information on this program, or to ask any questions, please reach out to the JBFC Education Team by emailing education@burnsfilmcenter.org or talk to a teacher who’s done it, Tara O’Gorman from Casimir Pulaski School! You can email her at togorman@yonkerspublicschools.org.

The Children’s Environmental Film Challenge is part of the JBFC’s Environmental Sustainability Initiative (ESI). To learn more about how we are helping the environment, click here.