Organisers of a film festival set up by Keele University students to showcase stories about the climate crisis have announced a brand new category for local filmmakers. 

Earth Stories, an award-winning international film festival, was set up by Keele University students to bring together narratives about climate change and the environment from across the world.  

Since 2022, the festival has received over 4,000 submissions from filmmakers up to the age of 25 in over 118 countries, highlighting important and inspirational stories from diverse communities and cultures, and for the 2025 festival a new category celebrating stories from across the region has been opened for submissions. 

The “Local Filmmaker” category is open to residents of Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire aged up to 25, and films can be in any category lasting between one and 10 minutes in total. 

Prizes are on offer for the best films in each of the festival categories, including Local Filmmaker, with the deadline for submissions set at 6th January 2025. The festival and prize giving ceremony will be held at Mitchell Arts Centre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on Thursday 27th March 2025. 

Festival Director, Emily Stevenson, said: “This new category has been designed specifically for residents and students of Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire. Being from Staffordshire myself, I feel it is hugely important that we do not only bring international films to the local area but provide a platform for local filmmakers to showcase their talent and stories to the rest of the world.  

“Across the city of Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding counties, there is a vast array of artistic talent. My wish is that in bringing this new dimension to Earth Stories, we can shine a spotlight on the arts in our local area and help to preserve our creative culture in the region.” 

Community co-ordinator, Aaliyah Gardner, added: “I am very excited to see how this new category will encourage local students to engage with the festival and help us to spread our important message. To any students who are unsure about filmmaking, or who haven’t tried it before - this is the perfect opportunity to have a go. With the criteria being a film as short as 1 minute, you could submit a TikTok, or other film recorded on your phone. If you have something to say about our changing environment and the importance of sustainability, I encourage you to give it a try and take this opportunity to be a part of this fantastic worldwide event.” 

For more information visit https://filmfreeway.com/EarthStories-1.