NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Before it was recognized at the Earth Day 2026 gathering in Times Square, Hello Dad began as a deeply personal question for filmmaker Neha Lohia:
What would her father have done?
The short film, which explores grief, memory, and the father–daughter bond, was created as a tribute to Lohia’s late father, whose life was rooted in simplicity, resourcefulness, and sustainable living. That influence shaped not only the story, but the way the film was made.
Shot in New York with a minimal production footprint, Hello Dad was powered using solar energy, with a consciously designed set-up that reduced reliance on conventional power sources. The production incorporated natural light, minimal equipment, shared resources, and plant-based catering, reflecting an approach where sustainability was embedded into the process rather than treated as an afterthought.
At this year’s Earth Day Times Square event, produced by Rev. Paul Sladkus, founder of the nonprofit Good News Corporation, alongside partners including EarthDay.org, Ommm Presents, and the Office of the New York City Comptroller, the film was recognized for this approach to sustainable filmmaking. The free clean energy event brought together over 50 performers and speakers, along with virtual appearances from UN Peace Messengers including Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and UNICEF’s Shakira. This 2026 edition was presented as a tribute to the Jane Goodall Foundation.
Lohia appeared on stage alongside lead cast members Emmy-nominated actor Tirlok Malik and Swiss-based actress Ankita Makwana as the project was acknowledged on a global platform for environmental awareness.
For Lohia, the method is inseparable from the meaning and craft behind the film.
“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.”
The film’s origins trace back to a personal journey of loss and remembrance. Over the years, Lohia wrote poems, rituals, and reflections as a way of processing grief; Hello Dad emerges from that space, carrying both emotional and philosophical weight.
She continued:
“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.”
Beyond its recognition at Times Square, Hello Dad has also received the Environmental Media Association’s Green Seal, an acknowledgement of environmentally responsible production practices.
While large-scale productions continue to explore high-tech sustainability solutions, Hello Dad represents a simpler model — one that asks whether intentional choices, even on a small production, can meaningfully reduce environmental impact.
About Neha Lohia
Neha Lohia is an award-winning filmmaker based in New York, with experience across global studios and independent productions. Her work explores personal memory, human connection, and inner life, often intersecting with conscious approaches to storytelling and sustainability. Currently finishing her study of emerging technologies in cinema production at CUNY, she continues to develop projects across film and immersive media.
For more information: www.nehalohia.com/films/hello-dad
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