Young storytellers promote ‘sustainnovation’ thru documentary films

People of all ages have the power to join all sorts of movements that aim to forward sustainable actions and challenge existing works that go against sustainability. But the youth of today seem to understand better than anyone the urgent need to advocate for it, and, more importantly, to act towards it.

This is what the Filipino youth have proven as many of them joined the 7th Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition, courtesy of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

Anchored on the theme, “Sustainnovation: Harnessing Science and Technology towards a Greener Community,” this year’s Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition sought to gather stories that champion green technologies and their impact on biodiversity–highlighting the value of three vital concepts: innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

Guided by this theme, the documentary film entries captured diverse “sustainnovation” stories of Filipino businesses, most of which were startup companies, that mainly forward the effective use of innovative strategies to improve their works and advance sustainability.

Among the topics covered were sustainable solutions to farming and crop cultivation, fish production and livelihood, power generation, water supply and conservation, plastic recycling, and waste management.

Besting a great number of film entries that feature stories of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, 10 short documentaries emerged to become the top finalists of the competition, as screened by the Indie-Siyensya board of judges composed of esteemed filmmakers and science experts.

Below are the finalists for the Youth and Open Categories:

Youth Category: 1. Anigham–Jerick Marc Laurence C. Grimaldo (Hello Team Production/Quezon Science High School), 2. Plugged in for Progress: The Power 4 All Mission–Dominicq Emanuelle B. Peña (Power 4 All/Mapua University), 3. Ruta–James Mark D. Caponpon (Alukkana Productions/Las Piñas City National Science High School), 4. Semilya–John Marck B. Palpal-Latoc (Rizal National Science High School), and 5. 3Cs Coconut: Cultivation and Culture–Carlos Miguel P. Enriquez (Luis Palad Integrated High School).

Open Category: 1. Biyaya Mula Sa Abo–Marvin C. Gabas (KnightVision Multimedia Production), 2. Kakasa ba?–Val Allen U. Eltagonde (Aghamulat Productions, Ateneo de Manila University), 3. Out of Sight Out of Mind–Nathan M. Gumba (Ankelbiter Prod), 4. Re/F/use (Refused to Reuse)–Leighton D. Angcan (LA Films), and 5. Sagbot sa Dagat–Frankie James Balos (Dalumat Productions).

“For the past six years, Indie-Siyensya has nurtured the youth’s passion to tell stories, create documentary films, and join science festivals that seek to inform and educate the public about certain issues of society. And with this, we hope that they will remain to see films as a product of careful scientific research, a potent tool needed to solve the current and future needs of our communities,” said DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo.