We are the only planet with oceans, and they are indispensable for our survival. However, many people are unaware of the importance of ocean creatures and how to protect them. This is because they don’t really see them every day. Sea creatures are just lunch or dinner or an ingredient in cosmetics. Young scuba diver Ema Poposka believes if people could see the beauty of the ocean and of the corals, they will change their minds about sea protection. This inspired her to join Action for a Cause to produce a documentary film about Hong Kong corals. Ema’s aim with the documentary film made by kids is to raise awareness about the uniqueness of Hong Kong corals, the need to start taking care of corals, and how we can do this in our everyday life. This documentary was made by a crew of 12 to 15-year-old students. Director StatementI believe that storytelling is a way to develop empathy for the environment and give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. Director Biography -&nbsp;Ema Poposka<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/892/640/original/b1fb01c8f3-headshot.jpg?1629376829" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/892/640/thumb/b1fb01c8f3-headshot.jpg?1629376829" width="200" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;"></a> Ema Poposka is a Y9 student at Renaissance College Hong Kong. Born in North Macedonia in 2008, she moved to Hong Kong with her family when she was three years old. Ema is an award-winning young photographer and has appeared in TV programmes, studied screenwriting with HKYAF, acting with Faust International Youth Theatre, and musical theatre with Face Academy. Ema’s passion for protecting the sea and sea creatures developed since early age as she loves spending time near the sea, surfing, sailing and diving. The Living Sea is Ema’s first film. ------- Friday Harbor Film Festival wishes to thank Suzie Mygatt Wakefield for sponsoring the Student Film Competition.

THE LIVING SEA

12-year-old scuba diver Ema sets on a quest to find out why corals around the globe are dying but somehow in Hong Kong they are more resilient.

Hunter struggles coping with the death of a loved one.&nbsp; Director StatementGrief can be sort of like a relationship. You have to work on it, communicate with it, accept it, and grow from it. While death surrounds us all the time, especially now during hard times, grief can often be neglected and put to the side. And when grief isn't nurtured and taken care of, it tends to creep up behind us when we're not paying attention. Like relationships, grief is different for everyone. By the time I was 22, I had gone to more funerals than I count. For me, grief is numbness. Grief is acceptance. And death, well death doesn't scare me anymore, but grief does.&nbsp; In this film, I want you to think about what grief means to you. Director Biography -&nbsp;Angelica Rosario <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/791/245/original/54c614ca2d-headshot.jpg?1618315221" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/791/245/thumb/54c614ca2d-headshot.jpg?1618315221" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;" width="246"></a> Angelica Rosario is an Afro-Latinx director and writer. A Montclair State Film graduate, who works in the film industry mostly as an Assistant Camera. She grew up in the arts as a competitive dancer and loving photography. Her favorite movies are Midsommar, Just Go With It, &amp; Insidious. Her love for horror films and romantic comedies/dramas, always reflect in her work. Her first debuted film called Stuck. was screened in the Newark Film Festival, True Colors Festival, &amp; Latin Film Market, and it was nominated for Best Short in the Newark Film Festival. In her graduating year at Montclair State, she decided to shoot two thesis films because the pandemic delayed the production of Out of Mind. However, through the help of her team, she was able to get through shooting both films in a year.&nbsp;

OUT OF MIND

Hunter struggles coping with the death of a loved one.

On May 5, 2014, legendary Nisqually Tribal leader Billy Frank Jr., passed away after a lifetime of fighting for Tribal fishing and land rights. Known as one of the greatest leaders in Pacific Northwest&nbsp;history, his life’s work led from being violently arrested at age 14 for exercising the right to fish&nbsp;to being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom&nbsp;a year after his death.&nbsp;Today Billy Frank Jr.’s son Willie Frank III,&nbsp;recently&nbsp;elected as Nisqually Tribal Chairman and&nbsp;one of the youngest leaders&nbsp;in his Tribe's history,&nbsp;continues these efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Over the next year, he will&nbsp;carry out the honoring of his father with a statue in Washington D.C. in Statuary Hall.&nbsp;As his father once said,&nbsp;“The fight is never over—the fight for who we are and our culture and our way of life.” Director StatementAs my first film, this story began as a school project for a journalism class at Oregon State. While it is not a demonstration of cinematic filmmaking, the story of Billy Frank Jr. and now his son Willie is an essential part of Pacific Northwest history that more people should know about. Director Biography -&nbsp;Caleb Jacobson<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/842/083/original/39b349cc03-headshot.jpg?1623292365" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/842/083/thumb/39b349cc03-headshot.jpg?1623292365" width="200" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;"></a> A self-taught outdoor and adventure photographer, Caleb Jacobson has been eager to begin his journey into filmmaking. Highlighting the&nbsp;unique resources, history and&nbsp;wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest are one of his top priorities. When not busy studying at Oregon State, Caleb enjoys spending time in outdoor rock climbing and mountaineering. ------ Friday Harbor Film Festival wishes to thank Suzie Mygatt Wakefield for sponsoring the Student Film Competition.

NISQUALLY MOVING FORWARD

On the East End of Long Island, a tenacious group of fishermen struggle to preserve a centuries-old way of life. ------- Friday Harbor Film Festival wishes to thank Suzie Mygatt Wakefield for sponsoring the Student Film Competition.

SEA BEYOND THE GLITZ

On the East End of Long Island, a tenacious group of fishermen struggle to preserve a centuries-old way of life.

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