Kal Glanznig's 'Rising Up': A Cinematic Journey to Tackle Climate Change and Plastic Pollution
23 year old Sutherland Shire Environmental Citizen of the Year 2023, co-founder of Plastic Free Cronulla & United Nations COP27 & COP28 delegate Kal Glanznig created the film Rising Up upon returning to Australia and wanting to uncover solutions to climate change and plastic pollution.
The film sees Kal travel to the frontlines of the climate and plastic crisis, travelling to Tuvalu, Samoa, Bali and across Australia to uncover the solutions of how we can all rise up and take action.
Studies have found that over three-quarters of young Australians aged 16-25yrs are concerned about climate change and two-thirds of young Australians say climate concerns are having a negative impact on their mental health (Orygen, 2023). Rising Up is a journey uncovering the human stories of the greatest crises we face & finding solutions we can all do to roll up our sleeves and take action.
Interviewees include young environmental leaders such as;
- Sam Fricker, Cronulla Olympic Diver and founder of Sam’s Straws
- Sophia Skarparis, Plastic Activist
- Lottie Dalziel, founder BANISH and NSW Young Australian of Year 2023
- Grace Malie, Tuvaluan Youth Climate Activist and director of Rising Nations
- Okalani Mariner, Samoan UN Youth Climate Representative
And business, community and political leaders such as;
- Zali Steggall, Federal Member for Warringah
- Pete Celingski, Founder Seabin
- Sam Bencheghib, Co-Founder Sungai Watch, Forbes 30 under 30
Production was done by 23 year old Cronulla filmmaker Joel Bryant and Take 3 for the Sea are helping with distribution of educational content from the film into schools across the world. There are already 40,000 students signed up waiting to watch lessons based on Rising Up in their schools.
It was filmed at the end of 2023 before Kal travelled again as an Australian delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The film premiered at the Ocean Lovers Festival at Bondi to a sold out audience on the 23rd of March and has since been featured recently at the Sydney Climate Action Week to another sold out audience at the Australian Museum.
Kal and the team are excited to have some support from Hoyts Cronulla to showcase this film locally and inspire hope amongst the community.
The special screenings at Hoyts Cronulla that coincide with World Ocean Day will feature a Q&A after the screening with Kal Glanznig, Blake Johnston (World Record Holder and Sutherland Shire Citizen of Year 2024), Joel Bryant and other ocean advocates.
It is an event not to be missed.
Limited tickets available online for $15 at https://events.humanitix.com/rising-up-cronulla
WHERE? Hoyts Cronulla
WHEN? Friday 7th June 6:00pm - 8:00pm & Sunday 9th June 1:00pm - 3:00pm
About Kal Glanznig
Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate changemakers. A Take 3 For the Sea ambassador and creator of the documentary Rising Up, Kal was awarded Sutherland Shire Young Australian of the Year 2020 and Environmental Citizen of the Year 2023, he was part of the Youth Advisory Council for World Oceans Day and in 2022 and 2023 attended the United Nations Climate Change COP in Sharm El Sheik and Dubai as a youth delegate and speaker.
Whilst in high-school he arranged a $100,000, 100kW solar panel system, leading to over 20 schools following suit. Concerned about the levels of plastic he saw firsthand through travelling with the Australian water polo team, in 2019 he co-founded Plastic Free Cronulla, building a community movement that has seen support from all levels of Government and helped achieve legislative bans of single-use plastics in his state of NSW & Australia.