Located at the Arizona State University MIX Center, a handful of short films along with one feature film were showcased in the theater. Out of these shorts, one in particular caught the most attention.

“Foundations of Sustainability” is a five minute short film that explores the Grand Canyon University Garden. With the work of Urban Farming Education, it highlights how community engagement and hands-on learning are helping people reconnect with sustaining the environment.

Brooklyn Jeanmarie-Jones, the director of the short, shared what she believed was the most impactful aspect of her project during a Q&A session.

“I would say the interviews,” Jeanmarie-Jones said. “I feel like we had people from different age demographics so I feel like because of that your audience is broader.”

With features from other GCU students and Urban Farming workers throughout the short, each person involved was able to truly express the importance of preserving the ecosystem.

“Our three pillars of sustainability are environmental, social and economic,” Jeanmarie-Jones said. “How all of those things must be equal and in tandem with one another.”

Urban Farming Education Garden Coordinator Gracie Mika conveyed the importance of community gardens when planting.

“It’s hard to do something alone,” Mika said. “One person can make an impact, but working together as a community… can really make a big difference to our environment.”

For all ages, the Urban Farming Foundation at campuses like GCU allowed students and teachers to be able to build their own gardens and leave a lasting impression.

“I think it’s important to be very intentional in what we’re putting together,” Mika said. “It really helps capture the whole idea that’s going on… conveying that message so that it’s inspiring to our community.”

Over 230 different entries were submitted to the festival, ranging from documentaries to narrative stories. One of the feature films shown stood out from the rest and pulled at the audience’s heartstrings.

Narrated by Woody Harrelson, “Kuleana” follows Chris Dickerson on his cinematic journey into the plastic pollution crisis impacting Hawaii. With features from baseball stars, freedivers and surfers, the film calls the audience to a cause and action. The movie also reveals the hidden impact of microplastics that still remain in our oceans through groundbreaking research from oceanographers.

SkyFire Film Festival Co-Founders Joe Roselle and Michael McMahon communicated the mission of Urban Farming Education.

“We want to raise awareness, we want to educate, and we want to close the gap between information and action,” Roselle said. “When you come to all these venues, we’re diverting waste from the landfill with those two initiatives.”

The two initiatives that Roselle and McMahon aim at setting are allowing each member that attends the festival to get a free light rail pass, using sustainable transportation. The next, implementing a zero waste system to remove the use of plastic.

“What we’re trying to do is broaden what we’re doing and deepen our work with our community here and deepen our work with our community,” McMahon said. “The only way this works is if everybody’s involved with that and enjoys it.”

By starting up a film festival, the co-founders were able to expand their horizon in finding advocates that want to participate.

“Engaging in the film industry is one of the best strategies to engage the economy,” Roselle said. “We see that it’s also a great way for people to engage in the companies.”

While on the light rail for the first time, Roselle and McMahon found themselves visiting locations all around the Phoenix area through several days.

“It’s a place you want to be,” McMahon said. “There’s a lot about Arizona, and I know there’s other people who do it.”

Whether you are a filmmaker, fan or volunteer, the SkyFire Environmental Film Festival speaks out to not only moviegoers but activists around the world that are willing to make a difference on our Earth.