About the CEC Student Film Fest

Since 2018 the CEC Student Film Fest has been inviting local students to make short videos of five minutes or less that show how they care about the planet. Topics vary widely, but all films express the unique perspective of the young filmmakers on the environmental topic of their choice.

Entries have included original music that has been performed and recorded, stop-motion techniques, live action and comedy, collaborations and more. The means of expression is up to the filmmakers. In addition to creativity, videos should present accurate, referenced information that support the message filmmakers seek to convey.

The Film Fest is cosponsored by the Burlingame Environmental Club (BEC) at Burlingame High School. BEC also conducts a free filmmaking workshop in January and hosts a film festival in March at Burlingame High, where videos are screened and winners are announced.

CEC Student Film Fest Winners

2023

Elementary School: ZJ Leung and Shaayer Alam, fifth graders from North Hillsborough School and The Nueva School respectively – “Plastic Bottles? More Like Drastic Bottles.”

Middle School: Alisa Ching, Zeina Badran and Ashlynn Wong, seventh graders at Burlingame Intermediate School – “Dressed to Kill: The Truth of Fast Fashion.”

High School and Best in Festival: Shayna Blum and Mayu Simpson, 10th graders at Burlingame High School – “Our Energy”

2022

Elementary School: Shoan Deb, Washington Elementary School – “Go Save the World”

Middle School and Best in Festival: Siddharth Chibber, Burlingame Intermediate School – “Boxed Like a Fish”

High School: Lian Wang, San Mateo High School – “How Consumerism Drives Climate Change”

2021

Elementary School: Elaina Newman, The Climate Cost of Clothing” – Watch

Middle School: Kayla Ling, “We Have a Climate Crisis – Who’s to Blame? – Watch

High School: Jamison Chow, Katie Hong and Ashley Stewart” – Watch

Best in Festival: Kayla Ling, “We Have a Climate Crisis – Who’s to Blame? – Watch

2020

Elementary School: Allison Wylie, “Climate Change Is Taxing” – Watch

Middle School: Astrid Carlen, “The Carbon Footprint of a BLT” – Watch

High School: Brian Church, Manny Barron, “Composting News Segment” – Watch

Best in Festival: Astrid Carlen, “The Carbon Footprint of a BLT” – Watch

2019

Elementary School: Mika Haggarty & Olivia McGlynn, “STE News Episode 23” – Watch

Middle School: Alison Saunders, “The Trash Task” – Watch

High School: Mark Mangano, “Plastic Bottle Pollution” – Watch

Best in Festival: Alison Saunders, “The Trash Task” – Watch

2018

Elementary School: Natalie Wylie, “Feed the Future” – Watch

Middle School: Minnoli Raghavan, “Reducing Your Carbon Footprint” – Watch

High School: Lucas Mills & Aidan Burke, “Car Pollution”

Best in Festival: Natalie Wylie, “Feed the Future” – Watch

Film Fest winner