WOOD TV8: Nationwide youth film contest names a Michigan winner

One winner from Michigan was announced in the second annual Nourishing Narratives: Cultivating Youth Stories for Change contest.

The contest encourages youth ages 13-18 to submit a short film up to three minutes in length about food justice. This year, participants interpreted the theme, “Creating Better Food Futures.”

Ten winners across the country have been selected.

One of this year’s winners is a team of two, Abigail Cooper and Avery Walker from Ravenna, Michigan. They landed in the finalists with their short film titled, “Avery & Abi Creating Better Food Futures.”

Some of the film requirements were to include a plate or bowl as a prop, to film entirely on a mobile device, and to have the quote, “Change Starts With us” included somewhere in the film.

“We chose to highlight the topic of food insecurity because we decided that change can start with us by helping people who might be insecure and might need help getting resources like food,” Walker said.

Sponsored by Mosiac Film Experience and Newman’s Own Foundation, winners were selected by a panel of educators, food justice leaders, and film industry professionals. Each winner will receive $1,000 and are invited to a two-day event in August at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Detroit where they will meet professional storytellers and educators.

“Nourishing Narratives reminds us that young people aren’t waiting to impact the future, they’re already shaping it,” said Skot Welch, founder and president of Mosaic Film Experience in a statement. “These filmmakers challenged audiences to think differently about food, community and opportunity. Their stories demonstrate the power of storytelling to spark meaningful change and show that meaningful change isn’t defined by age, but by the courage to share your voice.” 

A screening of this year’s Nourishing Narratives winning films will take place August 15, 2026 at 4 p.m. in Dearborn Michigan. 

WATCH the interview here: https://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/nationwide-youth-film-contest-names-a-michigan-winner/

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