Youth will inherit the earth one day – but what sort of inheritance do they have to look forward to?  The winners of a sustainability film challenge meet and discuss the issues with some of the most influential people in the country in OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY, an insightful documentary to premiere on Māori Television on June 4 at 8.30 PM.`

  Last year, young filmmakers aged between 12 and 20 were invited to māke a short film on any aspect of the environment that struck a chord with them.    

Five winners were selected, in turn to become stars of this documentary as they show their films to some of the most important people in Aotearoa-New Zealand.  The Māori King, Tuheitia Paki, Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes, Prime Minister Helen Clark, her counterpart John Key, hip hop pioneer DLT and advertising guru Toby Talbot all agreed to give their time to this project – a fitting testament to the importance of sustainability to modern life, and the future.

  Presented by Kiritapu Allan (Ngāti Ranginui/Ngaiterangi), the documentary features winning films that are quirky, moving and challenging.  Their subjects rangē from a rap music video to an advertisement set in the future.  OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY features Aucklander and Elam art student Ally Palmer, 20, whose short film ‘A Sustainable Future’ is an opening to discussions with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, about the role of government policy in a sustainable future.      

Students Erana Walker (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) and Kōwhai Henare (Ngapuhi), both 17 year old students at Te Wharekura o te Rawhitiroa in Whangārei, are passionate about the need to restore the health of their local river, Waitaua.  They show their film to King Tuheitia, and discuss the role of Māori in caring for Papatūānuku – Mother Earth. 

Eighteen year olds Hannah Salmon and Blaine Western’s film ‘Post No Bills’ asks whether advertising is a driving force in over-consumption and waste.  Advertising bigwig Tony Talbot explains what hē sees as the guiding principles for his industry: “I like to think that the clients that I will be representing now and in the future will be clients who are motivated to change the world they are living in.”

‘Godfather of New Zealand hip hop’, DLT, talks to Moerewa students Fred Mane, 17, and Caleb Tana, 18, both Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi, about how music can help create a positive future for this country.

  And Hamilton film student Alwyn Dale, 19, finds common ground with Keisha Castle-Hughes (Ngāti Porou, Tainui, Ngāpuhi).  They talk about modern technology and social disconnection, and the way big issues like climate change can seem so overwhelming.  

“I think one of the most important things is to take notice,” says Keisha, who believes just making small changes to lifestyles is a good start.  “Everyone doing tiny things, like reduce, re-use, recycle, the simplest little things.”

  The documentary is directed and produced by David Jacobs from Connected Media, a charitable trust that promotes sustainability through media.  The Outlook For Someday Sustainability Challenge 2008 is expected to launch in mid-June.  Young film-makers share their vision of the future.  OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY premieres on Māori Television on June 4 at 8.30 PM.