All the votes are in. The judges & celebs have spoken. The YouTube and Facebook stats have been reviewed….

And here they are, in all their Earth Day glory! Congratulations Winners!!!

L.E.A.F. 1st Place Winner & Celebrity’s Choice Winner:
“Actions Follow Us” by Kyle Herman & Mallory Arkin
Northwood HS, Irvine

To everyone that entered – thank you. It was a year full of AMAZING entries and your work is inspiring and will undoubtedly create change in someone’s life as your messages are strong and precise.

What better day to announce the winners than Earth Day? We urge each and every one of you to continue your pursuit of a film and a sustainable future and invite you all to come out and check out the winners on the big screen at the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Youth Showcase presented by Volcom on Sunday, May 1st. Click here for details.

Stay tuned for details on the 2011-2012 contest!

“The entries this year were amazing,” said Volcom’s Director of Sustainability and CSR, Derek Sabori. “The quality of the work that these high school students are entering is great. There were so many entries that had thought-provoking messages along with A+ video and audio quality – it was really difficult to narrow them down to just 15.”

Ana Rothwell Interacting With Students

On hand were many of the students that had produced pieces for the contest as well as their families. Both were obviously excited to see their works on the big screen. After the screening, Derek and Ana took time to meet with the students to talk about the L.E.A.F. program and their potentially winning entries.

Mattan at Last Year's Newport Beach Film Festival's Youth Showcase

Also on hand was the 2010 1st Place and Celebrity’s Choice winner Mattan Cohen. Mattan addressed the crowd and showed his appreciation for what the L.E.A.F. program has done for his future:

“Winning the L.E.A.F. contest last year was incredible! Aside from the astonishing prizes I won, I have to say the ultimate gain was putting L.E.A.F. on the top of my resume to apply for colleges. It looks incredibly impressive to say on paper that you’ve won a film contest sponsored by a long list of leaders of business, entertainment, academia and the environment.”

Mattan went on to announce that he had been accepted to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, thanks in large part he said, to his 2010 L.E.A.F. winning entry.

The Top 15 selections are now available to view at www.leaf-rocks.com and the winning entries will be screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Youth Showcase presented by Volcom on Sunday May 1st.

Watch the Top 15 Reel here and stay tuned as we prepare to announce the 2011 winners!

To all that have entered and followed along this year, the entries were phenomenal. We received almost 90 entries this year and the selection process was very tough. The quality was awesome and everyone that entered had something brilliant to say.

The message here is the the youth of today have something to say, and they have a powerful means to say it: Film. Anyone of these would qualify as commercial quality and there are still some that are not on this list that could do the same.

These California High School Students are truly Leaders of Environmental Action Films!

“Top 15″ – In No Particular Order

Don’t Ignore the Signs – Northwood HS, Irvine
Save the Planet – Northwood HS, Irvine
Nuture Mother Nature – Northwood HS, Irvine
One – El Segundo HS, Los Angeles
Actions Follow Us – Northwood HS, Irvine
Don’t Be Another Hypocrite – Laguna Beach HS, Laguna Beach
Don’t Blow It – Laguna Beach HS, Laguna Beach
Keep Our Oceans Blue – Sage Hill HS, Newport Coast
It Starts With a Seed – Troy HS, Fullerton
Land Locked – East HS
What a Wonderful World – Home School, Long Beach
MCHS Ecommercial – What If? - Middle College HS, Santa Ana
You Can Make a Difference – John F Kennedy HS, La Palma
Change – John F Kennedy HS, La Palma
It’s Everywhere You Look – Newport Harbor HS, Newport Beach
See Good, Do Good - San Juan Hills HS, Ladera Ranch

Who will be taking home a “LEAFy” this year?

2011 "LEAFy" Award

Sunday April 17th
Official Top 15 Selection
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center
2301 University Dr., Newport Beach (at Irvine Ave.)
11:45am – 12:30pm
(No reservations needed)

Sunday May 1st
Winners Showcased
Newport Beach Film Festival’s Youth Showcase Presented by Volcom
Triangle Square Theater
1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa
6PM
(free event – first come first served)

Additionally, there will be an invite only reception for the Winners in May.

The screening this weekend is at the Newport Bay Conservancy’s Earth Day celebration this weekend. Please come out and join us at 11:45 to hear more about this year’s contest and to see the final selections on the big screen!

Wondering when the winners will be announced?

We’ll be showcasing the Top 15 selections at the upcoming Back Bay Conservancy’s Earth Day Celebration. Then, on/about April 20th, we will be announcing and contacting the winners, so stand by. If you are selected as a Top 15, we will also notify you and hope that you can make it to the event on the 17th.

Details on the 2011 LEAF Awards Celebration coming soon…

Great work to everyone involved, and stay tuned to find out who won!

Many people do not realize how much every second counts.

So, I hope that this video presents this topic well and brings proper awareness to the environment, leading people to change their ways to help reduce their impact.