Safety contest invites submissions from young filmmakers

Safe Routes to School, an educational program from Austin Public Works, invites all seventh- and eighth-graders to enter its first annual Lights, Camera, Safety PSA Contest. To enter, students create a PSA – a public safety announcement – about being safe while walking and biking. Safe Routes to School “provides and trains crossing guards, teaches students how to walk and bicycle more safely, and partners with communities to improve students’ routes to school.” Sahiti Karempudi, who coordinates the program, says, “We want to give young filmmakers a platform to use their creativity for a good cause. We also want students to build on the lessons they learned from our program in elementary school to teach their peers about walking and biking safely.” The winning videos will be broadcast in middle schools across the city and winners will receive gift cards to Alamo Drafthouse. Submissions are open from March 10-30. Winners will be announced May 20. See contest guidelines and rules on the Lights, Camera, Safety website.