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Protect the Planet with MobileMuster. Create a film to inspire recycling action!

You don’t have to be an experienced filmmaker to take part in MobileMuster’s Film Competition – all you need is an idea, imagination and motivation.

The theme for 2021 is ‘Protect the Planet’. We want to hear why you and your students think it is important to look after our planet and what it means to you.

It is important to link to the call to action (recycling your old phones) and this year’s theme when developing the storyline.

Students get to create a one minute film encouraging your community to recycle their old mobile phones. Students can create their film is any genre (comedy, action, romance, drama, sci-fi) and style (fictional, documentary or animation) – the choice is theirs. Take a look at our amazing 2020 and 2019 winners and finalists for inspiration.

Cool Australia lesson plans help students to explore the topic of mobile phone recycling, learn about changing behaviours and develop their film making skills.

The 2021 competition is now closed – good luck everyone!!! We’ll share the winning entries on our socials in November!!!

Entry is open to all primary and secondary students in Australia – and yes, this includes homeschoolers and remote learners.

Important dates:

  • 1 April 2021 – Film Competition Opens
  • 13 September 2021 – Film Competition Closes
  • 11 October 2021 – Finalists and Highly Commended Films Announced
  • 8 November 2021 – Winners Announced
  • 8-14 November 2021 – Winners showcased during Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week

MobileMuster will be awarding a $3,000 JB Hi-Fi voucher to the winner in each of the below categories and a $1,000 JB Hi-Fi voucher to up to three finalists. The categories are:

Lower Primary (Years 1-4) | Upper Primary (Years 5-6) | Lower Secondary (Years 7-9) | Upper Secondary (Years 10-12)

For judging criteria, entry guidelines and terms and conditions, check out the competition website. Take a look at our previous winners and our expert tips for inspiration. Good luck!

Education Resources

We have partnered with MobileMuster to create six lessons for Years 3-8 designed to support teachers and students in producing quality films for the competition. We recommend the following sequence of lessons, depending on the year levels you are working with.

Film-making Toolkit
– Years 3 to 8

This toolkit provides an overview of the skills and knowledge required to make great films in the MobileMuster Film Competition. Pick and choose elements, or work through all the material depending on the needs and interests of your students.
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Interviews On Recycling
– Years 3 & 4

This lesson will help students gain information for their films by exploring the importance of recycling mobile phones and the environmental impact of their manufacture.
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Designing For Film
– Years 3 to 6

This lesson contains brainstorming and planning processes to support students in developing ideas for the film competition. Students will be guided through creative processes and work with a group to refine and build out their ideas.
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Changing Behaviour
– Years 5 & 6

Students will explore the reasons why people don’t choose to recycle their phones and will learn about behaviour change theory. They will explore the importance of acknowledging emotion in decision making.
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Designing for Sustainability 1
– Years 7 & 8

Students will explore the principles of sustainable design and life-cycle assessments. They will understand the importance and value of designing products deliberately to be reused and recycled.
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Designing for Sustainability 2
– Years 7 & 8

Through exploring the role of emotion in changing behaviour and applying Design Thinking processes, students will develop a film that will aim to help mobile phone users overcome their resistance to recycling their old phones.
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Enjoying the MobileMuster Resources?

We have another Unit for Primary Years 3 to 6, check it out!

Hands-on Mobile Phone Recycling
– Years 3-6

This unit contains six lessons for Years 3-6 and is designed to increase students’ understanding of e-waste recycling through a series of hands-on activities. Use these lessons in sequence or select lessons to use in isolation. 
Go to Unit

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Expert Tips

To help students with their competition entries, watch the experts from Vidico share their tips on how to create a great narrative and technical elements for your film.

Creating a Narrative

Technical Elements of a Great Film

Previous Winners

The theme for the 2020 competition was Small actions, Big Impact. 

This awesome film is from Primary winners Khristian and Kael from Applecross Primary School
WA.

Check out the other award-winning 2020 videos and be inspired to recycle here.

Check out the 2019 entries here.

Winner MobileMuster Film Competition – Khristian and Kael Bacchelli-Khoo
from MobileMuster on Vimeo.

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With Thanks to Our Partner

MobileMuster is the product stewardship program of the mobile phone industry and is accredited by the federal government. It is voluntarily funded by all of the major handset manufacturers and network carriers to provide a free mobile phone recycling program in Australia to the highest environmental standard. The program is committed to raising awareness and educating the community on why it is important to recycle.

© 2021 MobileMuster and Cool Australia

Cool Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to land, water and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.