Microplastic Madness, a film by Atsuko Quirk and Debby Lee Cohen, is the story of 56 fifth graders from P.S.15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn - living on the frontline of the climate crisis - whose action on plastic pollution morphs into extraordinary leadership and scalable victories. With stop-motion animation, expert interviews, and heartfelt kid commentary, their inspiring narrative conveys an urgent, accessible message of informed action and hope.

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Atsuko Quirk, Director/Producer, is a documentary filmmaker, environmental advocate, and Program and Media Director of the NYC non-profit environmental organization, CafeteriaCulture.org (CafCu). She is a 21st generation Samurai family member from northern Japan, living in NYC. Her documentary, "Its  Everybody’s Ocean" won Best Documentary Short at NYC International Film Festival (2014) and has been screened in film festivals in ten cities around the world. “School Lunch in Japan - It’s not just about eating" (2010), her short documentary, has over 25 million views on YouTube! The movie conveys the importance of quality school mealtime and has inspired international audiences of students, educators, and school food leaders, as well as Cafcu’s own zero waste cafeteria programs. Atsuko is proud to be a Cooper Union parent (class of 2021).

Debby Lee Cohen, Director/Producer, is an artist/activist and Executive Director and Founder of Cafeteria Culture - working creatively with youth towards plastic-free, zero waste, and climate smart communities. She designed scenery, puppets, and animation for theater, parades, film and television, including design for HBO shows, "Classical Baby" and "Saving My Tomorrow.” In partnership with parents, students and NYC school food directors, she led the Styrofoam Out of Schools campaign, resulting in the elimination of half a billion plastic styrofoam trays per year from landfills, incinerators and students meals in NYC and 9 other cities. Debby Lee received a Proclamation from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (2018) for her zero waste efforts and is a board member of Manhattan SWAB and Plastic Free Waters Partnership NY/NJ.