Winning documentary profiles food waste in Chicago

A still from To The Rescue, a documentary from 15-year-old Mason Packer profiling organisations salvaging wasted food to feed the hungry.

For 15-year-old Mason Cade Packer, a visit to see his brother in Chicago last year offered an opportunity to do a quick spot of film-making.

The Kapiti College student had been thinking about making a film on food waste before he went away. So, when he was in Chicago, he spent a day with chief rescue officer of Zero Percent Emmet Ryan. Ryan and his organisation salvage food waste from restaurants to feed the hungry.

"Rescuing food and delivering it to people in need was such a cool experience," Packer said.

The day of filming was captured in Packer's five minute documentary

To The Rescue

which was named as the Body Shop Standout Winner the 2014 Outlook for Someday Film Challenge awards last week.

Watch To The Rescue:

To The Rescue was one of 20 winning films made by individuals and teams from 7 to 24 years old that were honoured at the awards on Thursday at Auckland's Aotea Centre.

Director of The Body Shop Barrie Thomas said Packer had made a "stirring" and "profound" film that "lives long after you've watched it".

"The documentary has a level of maturity, clarity and lightness of touch that puts it alongside the best short work by dedicated, experienced film-makers," Thomas said.

"To see that To The Rescue has been made by such a young film-maker speaks to how supremely talented Mason is. The film is a slow-burning force of passion and focus."

Packer, who won the Adobe Digital Media Award for his film Predator at last year's awards, said the Outlook for Someday was a great way to meet like-minded people.

"I have really enjoyed being able to notice how other people my age are making films," he said.

Watch Packer's 2013 winning film Predator:

Packer's film-making teacher, Alouis Woodhouse, said Packer was a "talented cameraman with a great natural eye for composition".

"You can see a maturity and highly sophisticated control in his camera work."

Alongside international food rescue initiatives, To The Rescue profiles Wellington-based organisation Kaibosh, a not-for-profit that redistributes edible food from retailers and producers to people in need.

The general Manager of Kaibosh, Matt Dagger, said he appreciated the opportunity presented by the film "take our mission and vision to a wider audience".

The prize package won by Packer included a mentorship with actor, film industry professional and Someday Ambassador Kiel McNaughton, membership of the Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand, and a Canon DSLR camera kit ready for film-making.

Packer said he planned to study film-making in Chicago after he finished high school in two years.

At The Someday Awards ceremony the winning film-makers received their prizes from Tom Hern and James Napier Robertson, producer and director of the acclaimed film The Dark Horse starring Cliff Curtis.

Each Winning Film received a special award (listed below) and was in the running to be the Element Audience Favourite.

Over 1200 people voted in the online poll, which was won by Open Your Eyes, a confessional video essay about wastefulness and disconnection.

Editor of Element magazine, James Russell, said him and the Element team were delighted Open Your Eyes had won.

"Given its short length, it reaches remarkable depth in conveying not only our consumer culture, but the underlying thinking behind it," he said.

"It will indeed serve its purpose and open the eyes of those who are oblivious to the ramifications of their actions. It will encourage them to tread more lightly on the earth."

Now in its eighth year, The Outlook for Someday film challenge asks young people aged up to 24 to make short sustainability-related films of any genre, filmed with any camera and any length up to five minutes.

•Watch all of the 20 winning films here.

•Read more about the 2014 Outlook for Someday film challenge.

SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS

Connected Media Film-making Achievement Award
For a film with outstanding creative / technical quality.
If Life was Like the Web by Angus Slade (14) from Lower Hutt

Enviroschools Young Voices For Change Award

For a film motivating young people and/or decision-makers to be change-makers.
Material Witness by Daisy Thor-Poet (16) and Ming Thor-Poet (13) from Mount Aspiring College in Wanak.a

UNESCO Sustainable Future Award

For a film which promotes dialogue on sustainability through a new perspective and/or critical thinking.
Odd Balls by Rowen Trusewich (17) from Auckland

Department of Conservation Big Picture Award

For a film focusing on one or more of the Big Ideas and Values in DOC's Big Picture strategy to connect young people to the natural world.
Nature's Ghosts by Emma Scheltema (24) from Auckland

Ministry of Youth Development Community Participation Award

For a film focusing on active citizenship
Paua Sustainability in Tauroa by Olivia Matthews (16) and Emma Dolfing (16) from Kaitaia College

Te Puni Kokiri Whakatipuranga Award

For a film with a Maori indigenous perspective on sustainability
Te Ao o te Tuturuatu by Tomairangi Harvey (11) from Christchurch

The Coconet.tv Pasifika Award

For a film by a Pasifika film-maker or team and/or featuring Pasifika language and culture.
Beeing a Honey Maker by a team from Avalon Intermediate School and Taita College in Lower Hutt (aged 11-13)

Like Minds, Like Mine Award

For a film that focuses on social inclusion and wellbeing as a sustainability issue for young people.
Rewind by Liam van Eeden (16) and Jean-Martin Fabre (16) from Verdon College in Invercargill

Auckland Council Film-maker Award

For a film by a film-maker or team from the Auckland region
Omaha Shorebird Sanctuary - A Place Worth Protecting by a team from AUT University in Auckland (aged 21-22)

All Good People and Planet Award

For a film which addresses social justice as a sustainability issue
To The Rescue by Mason Cade Packer (15) and Anthony McEwen (16) from Kapiti College

Green Ideas Sustainable Lifestyle Award

For a film focusing on lifestyle change for sustainability
Weekday Vegetarian by Ruby Harris (15) and Naomi Ashby-Ryan (14) from Logan Park High School in Dunedin

O'Halloran North Shore Media Empowerment Award

For a film which empowers its viewers and/or its makers.
Quinn's Quest by Hunter Williams (15) from Auckland

AUT Storytelling Award

For a film with powerful storytelling.
Cathy and Anna by Michelle Vergel de Dios (23) and Kiri Jones (20) from Auckland

Yours Digital Media Award

For a film with outstanding editing or animation.
The Final Cut by Connor Ayliffe (19) and Fyn Ayliffe (13) from Auckland

Viewfinder Cinematography Award

For a film with outstanding cinematography.
Beep by a team from Timaru (aged 18-22)

The 4.30 Show Secondary School Film-makers Award

For a film made by young people of secondary school age.
Epilobium by a team from Hobsonville Point Secondary School in Auckland (aged 13-14)

What Now Primary/Intermediate School Film-makers Award

For a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age.
No More Cats! by a team from Victory Primary School in Nelson (aged 10-11)

Tearaway Secondary School Performance Award

For a film made by young people of secondary school age with strong on-screen performance.
Open Your Eyes by a team from Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru (aged 14-15)

Upstart Magazine Primary/Intermediate School Performance Award

For a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age with strong on-screen performance.
Honeybee News by a team from Freevile Primary School in Christchurch (aged 7-9)

The Someday Ambassadors Teamwork Award

For a film with strong teamwork on and/or off screen.
Saving Trees by a team from Pongakawa School in Te Puke (aged 10-11)