On 10th April 2024, secondary schools across County Cork convened at Fota Wildlife Park’s Education, Conservation and Research Centre for the regional ‘Rubbish Film Festival Awards’. This event, first launched in Cork during the 2023/2024 academic year, is a platform for young filmmakers to highlight environmental issues through film.

The festival saw participation from 14 schools, with students producing one-minute films and posters of exceptional quality. The ‘Best Film Award’ was clinched by Schull Community School for ‘Fish out of Water’ and St Angela’s College for ‘Through the Straw’. Other schools were also recognized for their contributions.

Cork’s Mayor, Cllr Frank O’Flynn, praised the festival’s alignment with the mission to foster a sustainable community. Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, echoed this sentiment, expressing delight at the collaboration and encouraging everyone to view the enlightening films.

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As part of the programme, Transition Year students received a two-day workshop facilitated by Createschool, funded by Cork County Council and Cork City Council. The workshops emphasized sustainable practices and the power of storytelling to drive change. The winners will represent Cork at the national final on 10th May.

For more information about the festival and participation, visit www.RubbishFilmFestival.com. All films are available online at https://youtube.com/@rubbishfilmfestival.