Our Bureau
New York, NY
Award-winning filmmaker Neha Lohia’s short film Hello Dad was honoured at the Earth Day 2026 celebration in Times Square, New York, marking a powerful intersection of cinema, sustainability, and personal storytelling on one of the world’s most visible public stages.
The Earth Day Times Square programme, produced for over 24 years by Rev. Paul Sladkus, founder of Good News Corporation, brought together leading voices across environmental advocacy, arts, science, and public leadership. This year’s event, presented in tribute to the Jane Goodall Foundation, was held in partnership with NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Ommm, and EarthDay.org, and featured over 50 performers and speakers, alongside virtual participation from UN Peace Messengers including Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and UNICEF’s Shakira.
Lohia took the stage alongside the film’s lead cast, Emmy-nominated actor Tirlok Malik and Swiss-based actress Ankita Makwana, as Hello Dad was recognised for its solar-powered production approach and commitment to environmentally conscious filmmaking.
At its core, Hello Dad is an intimate exploration of memory, loss, and human connection. The film was created with a minimal production footprint, using solar-powered equipment to charge production gear and adopting a consciously restrained approach to resource use. The project reflects a growing shift within global cinema toward more sustainable and intentional modes of creation.
Speaking at the event, Lohia shared the philosophy behind her work:
“I come from India, where we call Mother Earth Dharti Maa. Dharti means she who holds, and it is our conscious responsibility to be as weightless as possible. As a filmmaker, I try to bring the same care to how a film is made as I do to the story itself.”
She added:
“This film holds a lot of personal memory and grief. I invite everyone to take a moment today to reach out to someone they love. Call your parents, your children, someone close to you, and tell them you love them. Thank them for sharing this time on Earth with you. This moment matters, because you never know when it may be the last hello, and what remains are the memories we carry forward that can get heavy if left unexpressed.”
Hello Dad is also a recipient of the Environmental Media Association’s Green Seal, recognising environmentally responsible production practices.
The recognition underscores a broader shift within the film industry, as creators increasingly explore how storytelling can evolve alongside more sustainable production methods. Through its solar-powered approach and minimal-impact execution, Hello Dad engages with an urgent question facing the industry today: can cinema reduce its footprint on the Earth while deepening its emotional impact?
Currently on the international film festival circuit, Hello Dad continues to resonate with audiences through its deeply personal narrative and conscious production approach. The film’s original music is set to release later this month across major streaming platforms.
Neha Lohia is an award-winning filmmaker based in New York. With a career spanning global studio and independent productions, her work explores human experience, memory, and emotional truth through a conscious storytelling lens. Rooted in her Indian heritage and informed by a global perspective, she develops projects across traditional and emerging formats, including virtual reality, with a focus on sustainability and intentional creation.
For more information, visit www.nehalohia.com/films/hello-dad
