What would you do with a trillion dollars? Which of the nation’s problems would you fix? Two students in LREI’s Advanced Advocacy Film Class, energized by the idea of cuts to government assistance programs, created an award-winning film about food stamps for the If I Had A Trillion Dollars Youth Film Festival.

The student filmmakers, twelfth grader Eliza V. and eleventh grader Hans G., were awarded the “Unique Vision Award” for their short film, a voiceover-style narrative told from the perspective of a shopping cart moving through the aisles of a grocery store.

Click here to watch the film "We We Need to Stop The Cuts To Food Stamps."

While the class floated around many issues they were passionate about, Eliza, who is from Australia, decided on food stamps because she was appalled by how little money an American family of four is expected to live on, shares film teacher Vinay Chowdhry.

“It’s a true example of the spirit of our school’s activism. The students chose an issue that really resonates with them,” Vinay says.

The National Priorities Project and the American Friends Service Committee sponsor the If I Had A Trillion Dollars Youth Film Festival to help integrate the voices and ideas of young people into the nation’s budget debate.

LREI film students have participated in the contest for several years. Last year, current twelfth grader Jaime Q. was awarded for his eye-opening film about obesity. Watch “The Fast Food Dilemna” here.