(Photo courtesy of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hosts its third annual Digital Mountain youth film festival at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

This year’s theme is “It’s My Trail,” and the public is encouraged to attend, and to vote for their favorite film in advance.

Films are available for viewing and voting on YouTube at www.youtube.com/itsmytrail

People may vote once each day for their favorite film on YouTube, or by emailing itsmytrail@gmail.com.

“This year we have three returning filmmakers and 11 who are new to this contest,” said festival coordinator Laura Williams. “Filmmakers in grades 7 to 12 have made unique and original films explaining why National Park trails are important to them. It’s inspiring and enlightening to see what our park means to these youngsters, and to share their hard work with the community.”

The gala film festival will premiere the student films on the “big screen” and award the winners at the park’s Kīlauea Visitor Center. The public is invited to participate in a potluck dinner preceding the festival at 5 p.m.

Awards will be announced at the event. Winners will be selected by a weighted combination of judging by a variety of professionals and the popular voting. Prizes include MacBook Pro laptops and Olympus digital cameras.

This project was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of the Coca-Cola Foundation.

Additional help, funding, and support comes from the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Natural History Association, Friends of the Future, Na Wai Ola ‘Waters of Life’ Public Charter School, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science, Keaau Youth Business Center, Hawaii’s Big Island Locations and Production Services, Big Island Film Office, Volcano Video Productions, and Mac Made Easy.

The Digital Mountain youth film festival is free. For more information, contact Laura Williams at (808) 985-6304 or laura_williams@nps.gov.