Climate Smart: Youth Video
Competition

Celebrating Our Winners!

The 2025/26 Climate Smart Youth Video Competition has concluded, and we're thrilled to showcase the incredible work of our talented young filmmakers. These videos demonstrate the power of youth voices in driving climate action in San José.

2025/26 Competition Winners

Check out our winning videos

Short Videos

Julie Ha-Vy Le video thumbnail
1st Place

Julie Ha-Vy Le

Green Moves: Sustainable Transportation

Arjun Krishnan video thumbnail
2nd Place

Arjun Krishnan

Climate Action = Community Action

Team video thumbnail
3rd Place

Anthony Haws, Maricruz Vargas, Luis Hernandez Torres

Climate Action = Community Action

Long Videos

Jimmy Nguyen video thumbnail
1st Place

Jimmy Nguyen

Green Moves: Sustainable Transportation

Johana Tran video thumbnail
2nd Place

Johana Tran

Climate Action = Community Action

Leticia Cheng video thumbnail
3rd Place

Leticia Cheng

Climate Action = Community Action

Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA) is a youth-led nonprofit that empowers teens and young adults to combat climate change now through impactful policy and education initiatives. In our Climate Smart Youth Video Competition, we invite youth from San José to bring their creativity to educate their peers, families, local governments, and the broader community about climate action through engaging and informative videos.

Discover SVYCA
camera on tripod

1. Choose And Research Your Chosen Theme

You'll base your video content on one of three themes: Climate Action = Community Action, Green Moves: Sustainable Transportation, or Power Up Sustainably: Clean Energy & Building Electrification.

Themes Resources
camera on tripod

Resources

We Offer Some Resources To Get You Started On Researching Your Themes And Encourage You To Look Further

Research Tips

Start With Reliable Sources Like The Climate Smart San Jose Website, Environmental Organizations, And City Government Data. Look For Local Examples, Success Stories, And Real Solutions Happening In Your Community.

Get Inspired

Explore How Other Young Filmmakers Have Tackled Environmental Topics. Check Out Documentaries, TED Talks, And Community Projects That Address Climate Action In Creative And Engaging Ways.

2. Plan And Record Your Video

We're partnering with CreaTV San José, a local organization that empowers the diverse community of San José to share their stories through media by providing training, tools, and platforms to underrepresented communities. CreaTV offers participants in this video competition equipment loaning for cameras and ipads, access to Adobe editing software, standard training on camera use and video editing, and one-on-one mentoring sessions (all free of cost!). We encourage you to take advantage of these resources to help develop your media skills and ensure high quality videos (note: whether you use these resources or not won't affect how you're judged — you'll only be evaluated based on your video submission itself). You can learn more in this blog posted by CreaTV

Please note, anyone appearing in the video who is not a Contestant will need to complete and submit the City's photo/video waiver form (available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

CreaTV Logo phone recording image

3. Submit Your Video

Upload your video as a YouTube link (with public access) through the google form linked below (be prepared to fill out and submit your parental consent form as well, will be linked in the form).

Submit

Winning Videos

Winning videos will be displayed at a screening event at City Council Chambers on a Saturday afternoon in January 2026: contestants, parents, friends, environmental groups, City Councilmembers, and others are invited to watch the winning videos, network, and discuss climate action (you're welcome to attend regardless of whether your video is selected as a winning entry).

In
Partnership
With

FAQS

Please let us know about any other questions or concerns at sjyouthclimateactionteam@gmail.com

Can I submit more than one video? ▼
Yes! You can submit up to four different videos, but each submission must focus on a different theme. Each video will be judged separately.
What should I include in my video? ▼

Introduce your chosen theme and why it matters

Explain the climate challenge in a way that's easy to understand

Showcase innovative solutions relevant to San Jose

Include a call to action for viewers

How will the videos be judged? ▼

A diverse panel of judges will evaluate submissions based on:

  • Creativity and originality (20%) - Does the video present unique ideas or a creative style that enhances the message?
  • Understanding of theme (20%) - How well does the video explain the chosen Climate Smart San Jose theme?
  • Problem Analysis (20%) - Does the video identify a relevant problem and explain why it matters in San Jose?
  • Clear Communication (20%) - Are the ideas presented and easy to follow?
  • Art & Design (20%) - Does the video use visual design elements effectively to support the message?
Where can I find information about climate change impacts in San Jose? ▼
We have many resources included in our resource section in the nav bar
How can teachers incorporate this contest into class projects? ▼

Classroom presentation materials about climate topics

Lesson plan suggestions that align with contest themes

Virtual class visits from environmental professionals

How will prize money be distributed? ▼
Prize money will be awarded in the form of gift cards or scholarship funds (winner's choice). For team submissions, the prize will be split equally among team members.