Directed by Ching Yu

Logline: Canadian kids from diverse families finding joy in nature's adventure: surfing, rock climbing, horse riding, and skiing

Synopsis: Diudiu and Leo, both Mandarin-speaking immigrants' children, navigate the slopes of the Canadian Rockies as they ski. Celeste, deeply rooted in her Indigenous horse culture, showcases the beauty of riding Indian Horse Relay in the Alberta Prairie. Anika, born into a family of Indian and Austrian climbers, climbs the rocks in her neighbourhood of Squamish, BC. Jade and Ryan, adventurous coldwater surfing girls from Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, ride the waves with enthusiasm.

Distribution Contact: WFG

More Details

RUNTIME: 17 Minutes
GENRE: Documentary
PRODUCTION FORMAT: HD
LANGUAGE: English
LOCATION: Alberta
TECHNIQUES: Live Action
KEYWORDS: Children, Outdoor, Climbing, Skiing, Indian Relay, Surfing, Girls, Parenting, Women, Mother, LGBTQ Filmmaker, Culturally Diverse Filmmaker, Female Filmmaker

Director's Statement: Since the pandemic, filmmaker Ching Yu, a mother herself, has witnessed children around the world stuck indoors. This experience fueled her belief that nature is the key to healing in a post-COVID world. Children are inherently connected to nature, and it's vital for them to explore and play in this environment to thrive.

'Find Me Outside' is a documentary by Ching that deliberately avoids mentioning COVID. Instead, it's a timeless short film designed to inspire families to reconnect with nature. Canada's vast natural landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for this exploration. Communities across the country offer resources to raise ""outdoor kids."" We see Canadian children of all backgrounds living, playing, and growing up in the fresh air, engaged in activities like surfing, climbing, skiing, horse riding and more. Through these experiences, barriers of culture, race, and gender fade away, fostering the development of happy, healthy, and respectful children.

Motivating kids to explore nature is the core message, developed during and after the pandemic. The documentary features a diverse cast, representing various racial and gender minorities. This inclusivity sends a powerful message to children: ""If they can do it, I can too!""

While COVID has created social isolation, nature and sports offer a path to healing the societal divisions left behind. These elements will be key to a sense of normalcy as the world recovers.