With a number of outspoken political leaders questioning the urgency of climate action, it’s easy to feel disheartened about our chances of restoring the environment for future generations. While individual actions can spark change, meaningful progress ultimately depends on systemic shifts – something that often feels frustratingly out of reach. For the creative trio Job, Joris & Marieke (A Single Life, Kop Op, A Double Life), that sense of urgency led them to merge their personal views on environmental issues with their filmmaking for the first time. The result is Quota – an accessible and engaging short film that tackles climate change head-on, aiming to inform, inspire, and hopefully make a difference.“The first step towards a better future is to change the mindset of people”As a younger man, climate change was never something I thought much about. But now, as a father of two in my forties, I find myself increasingly worried about the state of our planet and what kind of world we’re leaving for future generations. Like Job, Joris & Marieke – who don’t own a car, avoid meat, refuse to fly, and actively participate in Extinction Rebellion protests – I try to do my part. And like them, I’ve come to believe that “the first step towards a better future is to change the mindset of people.”But how do we actually spark that change? Can film help? When filmmakers take on themes as vast as climate change, the results often risk feeling heavy-handed or preachy. That was never a danger with Quota, however, which continues the studio’s signature light-hearted and playful approach to storytelling – proving that serious messages don’t always need to come in serious packaging.“One day we were talking about carbon footprints and how there are ways to calculate your own CO2 emissions”, the trio explain. “We discussed how it would be fair if everyone got a designated CO2 quota. And then we took it a step further, what if everyone got a fixed percentage of CO2? And what would happen when you surpass your quota? Quite an impossible scenario in real life, but not in animation. Especially the part on what would happen if your percentage came to zero, sparked our imagination. We came up with a cruel and funny consequence; when you’re at zero, you explode. This turned the idea around, this wouldn’t be a preachy boring film, but a hilarious gory one!”At just two and a half minutes long, Quota could easily have veered into PSA territory – but thanks to its wildly exaggerated premise and irresistibly fun aesthetic, it avoids that trap. Yes, there’s a clear message, but it’s delivered with such humour and lightness of touch that it never feels forced down your throat. Instead, Quota operates on multiple levels: it first charms its audience with energy and style, then quietly leaves you reflecting on why the filmmakers felt compelled to make this short in the first place.With Job, Joris & Marieke openly admitting that their hope was to “stop global warming,” this might just be the most ambitious goal we’ve ever heard for a short film. Of course, watching Quota won’t magically solve the world’s many environmental crises – but it might just get you thinking about your own actions and your role in the polluted world we all share.I’m not a filmmaker, so I don’t create work like Quota – but I can help by continuing to programme films like this. And you can help too: by watching, by sharing, and by being part of the conversation.