Roughly 1,000 Bay Area students and a slew of environmental filmmakers and organizations are set to take over all three of the Smith Rafael Film Center screens Monday and Tuesday for the 5th Annual Environmental Youth Forum, the California Film Institute's ever-growing eco film fest for students in grades 1 to 12.
The festival will include students from Glenwood, Vallecito and Sun Valley elementary schools in San Rafael as well as Ross Valley students from White Hill Middle School and Drake High. Robert and Laura Sams designed the event to help children develop empathy and positive feelings towards sharks, learn about the diversity of shark species and learn how sharks are necessary for a healthy ocean.
The forum was created to address the growing need for an active and engaging approach to teaching environmental awareness and activism to a diverse youth population, according to CFI officials.
