Our Mission

The City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services Department protects and restores natural resources, keeping our city clean, safe, and livable through garbage and recycling pickup, wastewater treatment, household hazardous waste disposal, protection from stormwater pollution, and much more.

We believe everything we do supports healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound, leaving a better Tacoma for all.

Requirements

All work submitted should bring the "If it hits the ground, it hits the sound." mission to light centering on themes of caring for our oceanic friends and neighbors by reducing stormwater pollution that can impair and damage valuable ecosystems and the environment.

  • Messaging should aim to amplify the mission statement, inspire activism, and motivate a shift toward taking action and finding solutions. 

    1. Applicants must reside in the greater Puget Sound Region.

    2. Short films should be capped at three minutes, but remember that less is more!

    3. Films must relate to the festival theme. All entries must be original works. Additionally, any music, footage, or other elements used must be either original or properly licensed. Submissions must be in MP4 or MOV format, with a minimum resolution of 1080p, and should be uploaded via FilmFreeway.

    We welcome and encourage films in any language. However, please ensure your piece has English subtitles if not in English.

  • Can be submitted via Instagram using #Ground2Sound or submitted via our form.

    All selected photo submissions are invited to display work at the main event in March

Prizes

Top 5 from each tier will win prizes as outlined and first-place winner from each category will be screened at the film festival. 

All winners awarded:

  1. Certificate award

  2. G2S Tee

  3. VIP Bag

  • K - 5/6th Grade (depending on district)

    First Place $750

    Runner Up $500

    3rd Place $250

    4th Place $200

    5th Place $100

  • 6/7th - 8/9th Grade (depending on district)

    First Place $750

    Runner Up $500

    3rd Place $250

    4th Place $200

    5th Place $100

  • 9/10th - 12th Grade (depending on district)

    First Place $750

    Runner Up $500

    3rd Place $250

    4th Place $200

    5th Place $100

  • 18+ (not graduated or no longer attending high school)

    First Place $750

    Runner Up $500

    3rd Place $250

    4th Place $200

    5th Place $100

  • Voted by attendees of film screening and post event 

    $500.00

  • Take 1 photo of the ground and 1 photo of Puget Sound and use #Ground2Sound

    4 Monthly Selections (Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan)

    $75 per Winner 

HEALTHY SOUND. BETTER TACOMA. NOW AND FOREVER.

Judging Criteria

Message: How effectively the film communicates the theme.

Creativity: Originality and creativity in storytelling and presentation.

Technical Quality: Overall production quality, including sound, editing, and visuals.

Impact: Emotional and intellectual impact on the audience.

  • We strive to set a space for films that are as unique and diverse as our community of creatives.

    Play, explore and take us on a journey with you!

  • We are dedicated to showcasing short films centering on themes of caring for our oceanic friends and neighbors by reducing stormwater pollution that can impair and damage valuable ecosystems and the environment.

    Messaging should aim to amplify the mission statement, inspire activism, and motivate a shift toward taking action and finding solutions.

The term "South Sound Region" or just "South Sound" applies to the communities surrounding the water. The South Sound contains the Olympia-Tumwater Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Shelton Micropolitan Statistical Area.