I'm Kasha Sequoia Slavner, a multi-award-winning Canadian Gen-Z documentary filmmaker, global youth leader, and recipient of the Kim Phuc Youth Peace Award.

I started my filmmaking career at a very young age. When I was 16, overwhelmed by mainstream media's negative and sensationalized depiction of the world, I knew there had to be an alternative narrative to share. The anxiety I feel, not only my own but that of my peers as well, motivates me to use my passion for visual storytelling to focus my lens on solution-based international stories that inspire audiences, especially youth, to become civically engaged.  

So, at 16, taking a year off school to make my first feature-length documentary, I crowdfunded my journey across the world and worked tirelessly after school, on weekends, and summer breaks to finish it before graduating. My film The Sunrise Storyteller has now screened internationally at 60 film festivals and won 30 awards, including the Ron Kovic Peace Prize & the Eva Haller Women Transforming Media Award (My Hero Film Festival, LA) engaging youth in classrooms across the globe.

This is the narrative we need to shift: Humanity and the planet are in CODE RED, as we face the climate crisis. Temperatures are rising, ecosystems are threatened, food insecurity is increasing and displaced populations are also on the rise. Not to mention the current pandemic and we're also at 100 seconds to midnight on the Doomsday Clock, facing a threat of total nuclear annihilation all the while governments are increasing, rather than decreasing, their military spending. Is there any hope?  

Yes, youth are searching for hope, 1.8 billion of us, as our rapidly changing climate and increasing global tensions, are an ever-present threat, leaving us feeling uncertain of what the future holds for our planet and all living beings. That's why I decided to use the intense anxiety and overwhelm I feel when contemplating the multiple existential threats my generation faces and have committed my next feature documentary to explore the intersection between peace and meeting the challenge of the climate crisis.

As a Gen Z activist filmmaker, I will explore stories of young people, especially those most affected by climate change and conflicts, who are working to break down the silos between peace and climate justice movements. Their journeys to find positive solutions and hold leaders accountable, while challenging their own fears and anxieties, ignites courage within us to take action alongside them, and unify a movement for peace and climate justice for all.  

"1.5 DEGREES OF PEACE" is dear to my heart because I have seen how the power of positive storytelling can inspire and empower people to take action. And I know we all share a vision for a healthy, just and peaceful world for the future of all. Everyone is needed.

With the help of the Shawn Mendes Foundation as a Wonder Grant for Sustainability recipient, I am thrilled to present the official DEMO reel for my next documentary "1.5 DEGREES OF PEACE".  

TODAY my team and I launched our campaign to generate awareness, build community and raise funds to get the film into full production by early Spring 2022. We're starting off in a huge way with a takeover of pop-star Shawn Mendes' foundation instagram account at The Shawn Mendes Foundation. Today October 14th until October 15th, Go check it out and let us know what you think. (Click on the INSTAGRAM STORIES - the top left-hand logo)

We hope we can count on you to help champion this project! We need your support. Please join us on this journey to help us make this film. DONATE whatever you can, share this email with your friends, networks, follow us & share on social media, become an ambassador for peace and planet with us. Everyone is needed!