Los Gatos, September 3, 2025: Saratoga High School Seniors Celina Ren, Sophia Faraone, Christina Labban, and Joshua Chan have won a $500 Environmental Activism Award in the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest for their short documentary, “Speed Bumps Ahead.” The award is sponsored by the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC).
A winner of the MAP 11 American Issues Documentary Award at the program’s culminating event SMASH’N last Spring, their film explores the history of transportation in the United States, charting the nation’s shift from walkable, transit-based communities to an auto-dependent society. Highlighting the costs of car culture, from 42,000 annual traffic fatalities to the 4.3 years the average American spends behind the wheel, the students' film builds a compelling case for a return to walkable and bikeable cities.
Using a mix of archival film clips, animated graphics, and expert interviews, the filmmakers illustrate both the challenges of auto-centric development and the opportunities for more sustainable and human-centered urban planning.
“Transportation in the United States is often overlooked, but it is the cause of massive pollution, congestion, oil use, and pedestrian casualties,” explained Celina Ren in the team’s contest submission. “By entering the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, our team dreams of informing people of the history and issues concerning America’s reliance on cars, and the roads built around it.”
This year’s contest received nearly 400 submissions from 58 countries and 35 U.S. states. Winners include young filmmakers from Ukraine, France, Poland, Australia, and across the United States. The Global Awards Celebration will take place on Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Davis Theater in Chicago, Illinois, and online for a worldwide audience.
Saratoga High School Media Arts Program (MAP) students have been recognized in the past at this international festival. In 2023, a team of seniors won Honorable Mention for their film “Environmental Justice,” which examined the disproportionate impact of environmental policies on low-income and underrepresented communities. That documentary also earned the title of Best American Issues Documentary at the school’s SMASH’N 2023 Awards.
“Our MAP program has provided a strong foundation for so many students interested in media and filmmaking,” shared Superintendent Heath Rocha. “I am incredibly proud of our students for sharing their work on an international stage and using film as a tool to inform, inspire, and drive change.”
The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest invites youth ages 8 to 25 to create environmental films that inspire change or action. Entries are judged by a jury of film and environmental experts, who provide individualized feedback. For more information about the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, visit www.oneearthfilmfest.org.
