The International Sustainable Development Film Festival was born from the conviction that education and artistic creation can be powerful drivers of transformation. At a time when environmental, social, and economic challenges directly affect younger generations, the Festival aims to provide a tangible space for expression — a space where students can observe the world, speak about it, take action, and share their visions through film.

The idea is simple: learn to understand the world by filming it. Reflecting on a theme, writing a script, shooting, editing, and screening — each step helps develop not only artistic and technical skills, but also essential human qualities: cooperation, critical thinking, and a sense of commitment. Since its creation, the Festival has established itself as an open and inclusive educational tool, fostering concrete engagement with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our goals: learn, create, act

The Festival aims to:

• Encourage young people to express themselves freely on the great issues of our time;
• Develop their environmental, social, and civic awareness;
• Stimulate creativity and initiative through concrete filmmaking projects;
• Build bridges between schools, cultures, and actors from around the world;
• And above all, embody the spirit of open education, where art and reflection become catalysts for meaningful engagement.

Each film thus represents a unique perspective on our planet, environment, society, or peace — key themes that structure the Festival's program while leaving students complete creative freedom.

A collaborative and international model

The Festival operates on a principle of collective participation. Each participating school can submit films created by its students and nominate jury members — students, teachers, parents, film professionals, or actors engaged in sustainable development. These juries watch the films via an online platform and take part in international deliberations, encouraging dialogue between generations and across cultures.

The Festival is also punctuated by exchange and learning opportunities — meetings of educational teams, workshops, webinars, and local screenings — each one a moment to strengthen cooperation and reflection around film, education, and sustainability.

Growth driven by schools and partners

Since its first editions, the Festival has grown steadily. Initiated at the French International School of Hong Kong, it was quickly joined by partner schools across Asia and later by many others from new regions — Europe, the Americas, Africa — with the ambition to build a truly global community of young, committed filmmakers.

This evolution has gone hand in hand with stronger collaborations with cultural and educational institutions — French Alliances, partner festivals, sustainable development education associations, and other organizations of the French-speaking and creative world.

The support of these many partners has made it possible to professionalize the initiative — establishing structured juries, pedagogical support, and broader film distribution — while preserving its original spirit: that of a lively, creative, and shared education.

Towards a global community of educational cinema

The 5ᵗʰ edition marks a turning point for the Festival. With the launch of its official website, the Festival becomes a true international platform for distribution and collaboration. This tool will host the films, highlight school initiatives, share educational resources, connect participants, and extend exchanges beyond the event itself.

The ambition is clear: to create a lasting global community united by common values — openness, solidarity, creativity, awareness, and collective action. The Festival thus stands as both a mirror of the world through the eyes of youth and a catalyst for a more responsible and hopeful future.

Above all, a human adventure

Beyond the films, the Festival is a human journey. Each project tells a story of cooperation, discovery, emotion, and often great courage. Each film is an act of engagement — the work of young people who dare to confront the complexity of the world in order to better understand and transform it.

Today, the International Sustainable Development Film Festival is more than a competition: it is a laboratory of ideas, experiences, and learning. It invites everyone — students, teachers, parents, and partners — to join together to reflect, create, and act for a shared, sustainable, and inspiring future.