The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Bayside Branch encouraged both primary and high school students to create a film and enter it into the Cicada Awards.

Wildlife Queensland president Simon Baltais said the students entered an impressive array of films that demonstrated how locals can help and provide hope for wildlife.

"The Bayside Branch was looking for a film or animation that helped educate people. These films would nourish or inspire, touch the spirit, make us wonder, laugh or shed a tear," Mr Baltais said.

"In this inaugural Cicada Awards we were very impressed with the level of competition and enthusiasm; it made a tough job for our judges headed up by Cr Debra Henry of Redland City Council."

The judges awarded 17-year-old Alexandra Hills State High School students Tatjana Trotter and Paris Ormerod the best film with their production on Redland mangroves.

Second prize went to Bay View State School students Ronin Bell-Brooks, Anastacia-Sky Celona-March and Mitchel King for their innovative animation about how to make backyards safe for koalas.

Third prize was shared between Olivia O'Connor and Alessia Napolitano from Bay View State School and Lexy and Leah Lever from St Rita's Catholic Primary School.

Best koala film went to Vogue Tanglao, Kiara Carbone, Kate von Euw and Yasmin Sequeria from St Anthony's Catholic Primary School and best film about streams, rivers and wetlands went to Zoe Mauerhan, Elysia Brookhouse and Tanaya Clark also from St Anthony's Catholic Primary School.

Redland City Councillor Debra Henry said the participants were innovative, were eager to tackle difficult topics, involved their families and shared with their friends.

"There was lots of laughter and learning as the entrants used their creativity to depict problems and offer solutions," she said.

"As a long time advocate for the environment and as one of the judges, I was heartened by the response and impressed by the quality of entries."

The event organisers said Cicada Awards would be held again next year as the Wildlife Queensland Bayside was so impressed with the enthusiasm and energy from the Redland students.