Campus Moviefest

Point the Way to Hope

As one of Campus Movie Fest's (CMF), longest-standing partners, we now provide an original content pitch opportunity, plus the budget and crew to bring one student's short film concept to life. The winning storyteller will receive $2,000 in prizes, Associate Producer credit, and the chance to join professional development and production teams as they create a high-impact, festival-bound film. The final short may be submitted to Sundance, SXSW, and/or Cannes.

Overview

The Elfenworks Foundation is offering the chance and the funds to develop a film focusing on how climate justice affects social justice. Through the Elfenworks Hope for Climate and Social Justice Development Program, you can pitch your idea and win $2,000 in prizing, receive mentorship from experienced filmmakers, and the opportunity to create a festival-worthy film.

Submit a short film concept grounded in a current issue involving climate justice or how climate change intersects with social justice, presenting it in a way that leaves the audience feeling hopeful. While not dismissing the urgency, point the way to hope so that the film helps bring us out of the darkness and into the light. The top 2 pitches will receive $10K to create their films, mentoring sessions from film professionals, and the grand prize winner (selected from the top two) will win an additional $2k in cold hard cash—just what your wallet needs!

Submissions open soon!

So, know a college student that's got big screen dreams? Pay it forward and pass this link along - we'd love to see their pitch!

Winning pitches are...

Compelling

Your concept points the way toward hope in a memorable and stirring way.

Salient

The chosen topic is deeply important to today's landscape and culture.

Enduring

The film you're dreaming of is non-partisan, non-political, and will stand the test of time.

Feasible

Think practical. The proposed film is not reliant on big budgets, famous faces, or complex logistics.

Winning pitches spark hope, inspire action for the better, and shed light on issues that are critical to the present and future. They should focus on changing hearts and minds while sparking involvement for a better future. The story pitched should also be evergreen; not only will it move people now, it will move people for years to come.

Hallogreen, 2025 Winning Film

When a child insists on buying a new Halloween costume, his grandmother is forced to come out of retirement as a seamstress and recycle costumes and decorations for her grandson. Congratulations to Zayan Agha for "Hallogreen," inspiring us with this story of upcycling clothing and the small changes we can all make in our lives!

We Stellar Remnants, 2024 Winning Film

We Stellar Remnants follows Deacon, a far future spaceman, as he rediscovers a depleted, dying Earth. Congratulations to Ben Senior for submitting the winning treatment.

Foreverglades, 2023 Winning Film

Watch the 2023 winning feature Foreverglades, and experience a kid in between foster homes finding hope in the magical, disappearing everglades outside Miami. Congratulations to Brittany Perry for submitting the winning treatment and working closely with Campus Movie Fest to create this amazing journey.

Treasure, 2022 Winning Film

We are excited to bring you the 2022 winning feature. Treasure is a heartfelt effort that arose from the lived experience of screenwriter Synnovia Ashe. It endearingly explores our throwaway culture and its effects, asking what it might feel like to be part of what was thrown away. Taking the object's point of view, a profound truth is captured in a way that is so charming and delightful, it is sure to inspire the viewer to reconsider, reuse, repurpose and reduce, rather than waste, resources. Learn more about it here [PDF].

Treasure - Press Release PDF

How it Used to Work

The Elfenworks Foundation, in partnership with Campus Moviefest (CMF), invited students to become storytellers for hope, by participating in the annual Campus Moviefest Elfenworks In Harmony with Hope Filmmaker^sm Award competition.

Students from across the country created films for hope and winners were selected by CMF in consultation with the Elfenworks Foundation. Winners were announced each June at the CMF Terminus event in Atlanta, Georgia. Celebrity presenters included Gabouray Sidibe (2011), Nate Parker (2012), Larry Wilmore (2013), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (2014), Elijah Kelley (2015), Thomas E. Ackerman (2017), and Jeff Goldblum (2021).

2021 Winning Films

From 2010 through 2021, students submitted completed films. Look at their wonderful creations:

2021 Honorable Mentions