People

A Good Neighbor + Earthbound: Nzambi Matee

 A Good Neighbor + Earthbound: Nzambi Matee

In Person, Friday, April 19, 5 p.m. CDT
Kehrein Center, Chicago [West]

In Person, Friday, April 19, 6 p.m. CDT
Unity Temple, Oak Park [W Suburbs]
Triton College, River Grove [W Suburbs]

Maggie Hart and Brittany Zampella/2023/19 min/Waste, Health, Justice

FILM DESCRIPTION: “A Good Neighbor” is a feature-length documentary about a Latina single mother’s fight against racism and climate change as she campaigns for city council in one of the nation’s most polluted zip codes.

Farhoud Meybodi/2023/48 min/Waste, Health, Justice, Built Environment, People & Cultures

FILM DESCRIPTION: Amidst a catastrophic plastic waste crisis in her hometown of Nairobi, Nzambi Matee risks everything to pioneer technology that transforms plastic waste into sustainable paving bricks.

The short film “The Speech of Txai Surui” by the students of Escola Parque (in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will precede the feature films. This film won two awards in the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest 2023.

Patrol

Patrol

Camilo de Castro, Brad Allgood/2023/80 min/Conservation, Climate, Justice, Food & Agriculture, Historical Perspectives, People & Cultures, Wildlife

Virtual, Monday, April 22, 6 p.m. CDT

FILM DESCRIPTION: Nicaragua is facing an escalating crisis. Illegal cattle ranchers and miners are decimating the Indio-Maiz Biological Reserve—one of the last remaining rainforests in Central America. Climate change and deforestation are leading to destruction of biodiversity and traditional ways of life. Commodities produced on illegally converted lands are finding their way to unsuspecting consumers in the US and other major markets. The indigenous and Afro-descendent peoples are addressing the threat head on—fighting back to protect their territory and way of life.

Upstream Downriver + Wings of Dust

Upstream Downriver + Wings of Dust

In Person, Thursday, April 18, 5 p.m. CDT
Epiphany Center, Chicago
[Central]
Park Ridge Community Church [North]

In Person, Thursday, April 18, 5:15 p.m.
Good Shepherd Luth. Church [W Suburbs]

Maggie Burnette Stogner/2023/30 min/Water Justice, Conservation, Health

FILM DESCRIPTION: "Upstream, Downriver" takes viewers into the heart of the battle for water justice. Powerful stories with frontline community activists are interwoven with historical context about landmark regulations.

Giorgio Ghiotto/2023/30 min/Water Justice, Conservation, Health, People & Cultures

FILM DESCRIPTION: Vidal Merma, a Peruvian Indigenous journalist, risks his life daily to secure a future where his son, Erik, can savor the simple joy of drinking clean water. This film won the 2023 Gold Medal in the Student Academy Awards.

Two short films will precede the feature films: “The Island” by Mahmut Taş and “Submerged” by Neo Sky James. “Submerged” tied for the Animation Prize in the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest 2023.