Earth Protect Blog

‘Stoked on the Coast’ offers prizes, glamour for stories about local beaches

Local environmental group Heal the Bay today issued a call for submissions to its inaugural youth film contest and community festival, dubbed “Stoked on the Coast.”

The contest asks middle-school and high-school students to conceive, shoot and edit original short films that convey their passion for California beaches and ocean. A panel of celebrity judges and community leaders will announce the winning entries at a public festival screening scheduled for September.

Students will register for the contest online and submit films ranging in length from six seconds to three minutes. Filmmakers are given wide creative latitude and are urged to pick and choose from a broad range of perspectives: recreational, environmental, cultural and/or historical.

In a bid to connect area youth to their beaches and to each other, Heal the Bay staff will host a series of training summits throughout the month of June. Entertainment and media professionals will donate their time to mentor participants, offering practical tips on storytelling and production.

Winning filmmakers will receive cash prizes up to $500 and other gifts.

Underwritten by a California Coastal Conservancy grant, the “Stoked on the Coast” program will conduct outreach to inland and under-served student communities to encourage participation and a fuller spectrum of coastal stories.

“Kids are passionate about the ocean, and passionate about sharing their stories via digital technology,” said Meredith McCarthy, Heal the Bay’s director of programs. “So we’re stoked to create this festival to encourage and showcase all that energy and creativity.”

For more information or to submit a film, please visit healthebay.org/stoked

About Heal the Bay 
Now in its 29th year, Heal the Bay is dedicated to making Santa Monica Bay and Southern California watersheds and coastal waters safe and healthy for people and marine life. It is one of the most effective nonprofit environmental organizations in Los Angeles County, with more than 15,000 members. 

Contact:  Matthew King, Heal the Bay, (310) 451-1500, x 137, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.