Youth Voices on Climate: COP26 & Beyond

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time.

Hear the conversation. Get a peek into perhaps the most important United Nations Climate Conference of our lifetimes in Glasgow, Scotland. Listen to youth delegates from It's Our Future and One Earth Film Festival, along with youth climate leaders from across the US and across the globe.

From Seven Generations Ahead, It’s Our Future, and One Earth Collective.

Can You Dig This

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film free on Tubi or for $3.99 on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

FILM DESCRIPTION: South Los Angeles. What comes to mind is gangs, drugs, liquor stores, abandoned buildings and vacant lots. The last thing that you would expect to find is a beautiful garden sprouting up through the concrete, coloring the urban landscape. Calling for people to put down their guns and pick up their shovels, these "gangster gardeners" are creating an oasis in the middle of one of the most notoriously dangerous places in America.

"Can You Dig This" follows the inspirational journeys of four unlikely gardeners, discovering what happens when they put their hands in the soil. This is not a story of science and economics. This is a story of the human spirit, inspiring people everywhere to pick up their shovels and "plant some shit."

Soul Food Junkies

RECORDED VIRTUAL and IN PERSON EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film on Amazon Prime with subscription.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Soul Food Junkies explores the health advantages and disadvantages of Soul Food, a quintessential American cuisine. Soul food will also be used as the lens to investigate the dark side of the food industry and the growing food justice movement that has been born in its wake.

Director Byron Hurt’s film is a rich exploration of history, humor, and stories about this cuisine’s soul-warming and cultural benefits as well as possible health consequences. When the film was released, among many other awards, it won “Best Documentary” at the 2012 American Black Film Festival and “Best Documentary Feature” at the 2012 Urbanworld Film Festival.

To Which We Belong

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is NOT STREAMING YET but is available via film festivals. Check this website link.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Science is showing that if we draw down enough carbon from the sky back into the soil through regenerative agricultural practices, we can actually reverse climate change bringing carbon dioxide down to pre-industrial revolution levels.

“To Which We Belong” tells the stories of nine farms and ranches going against the grain to bravely leave behind practices that are no longer profitable or sustainable. These unsung heroes just might save their livelihoods—and our world itself. And in this time of turmoil, it might be the best news you receive all year.

Young Filmmakers Contest Honorable Mention Winners (College + Post Grad Levels)

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge.

The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest awards environmental films created by students from grade 3 to age 25. Films that inspire change or action stream in from across the country each year, with 149 total submissions in 2021.

In this virtual event, we feature seven short films (from college to post-grad level), which were just a hair's breadth away from first place. Zoom discussion with filmmakers from Texas to Washington, DC, was facilitated by Young Filmmakers Contest Founding Director Sue Crothers.

Dolores

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film on YouTube, Google Play and Vudu for $3.99 or on Apple TV for $4.99.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Dolores Huerta is among the most important, yet least known, activists in American history. An equal partner in co-founding the first farm workers unions with Cesar Chavez, her enormous contributions have gone largely unrecognized. Dolores tirelessly led the fight for racial and labor justice alongside Chavez, becoming one of the most defiant feminists of the twentieth century—and she continues the fight to this day, at age 90. With intimate and unprecedented access to this intensely private mother to eleven, the film reveals the raw, personal stakes involved in committing one’s life to social change. This Sundance selection has won best documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Denver Women & Film Festival. Teens and young adults encouraged to attend.

Closing the Loop: A Documentary about the Circular Economy Revolution

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Going “circular” refers to the necessary change from our current take-make-waste linear economy to a borrow-use-return circular economy. The film is directed by Emmy® Award winning filmmaker Graham Sheldon and presented by global sustainability expert, Prof. Dr Wayne Visser. And despite its dire warnings, it is an optimistic film about innovative solutions.The documentary explores five key strategies for achieving circularity—reduce, reuse, recycle, renew and reinvent—by showcasing examples from Europe, Latin America and Africa and featuring insights from experts from the likes of the World Economic Forum and the Universities of Cambridge and Harvard.

The Condor and The Eagle

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is NOT STREAMING YET but is available via film festivals. Check this website link.

FILM DESCRIPTION: This award-winning documentary showcases a truly inclusive movement led by the most impacted. When so many of us feel isolated and helpless, "The Condor & The Eagle" brings us together in these times of crisis—reminds us of our deep interconnectedness with the Earth and one another. As world climate scientists predict unprecedented global catastrophe, “The Condor & The Eagle” features Indigenous women leaders deploying unparalleled global responses. Never-before-seen images expose the global rise of land and water protectors across the Americas.

I Am Greta: A Force of Nature

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is available on many streaming platforms or Hulu. Check film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: The story of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is told through compelling, never-before-seen footage in this intimate documentary from Swedish director Nathan Grossman. Starting with her one-person school strike for climate action outside the Swedish Parliament, Grossman follows Greta—a shy schoolgirl with Asperger’s—in her rise to prominence, and her galvanizing global impact as she sparks school strikes around the world. The film culminates with her astonishing wind powered voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to speak at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City.

Fantastic Fungi

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play or Vudu for $3.99 to $4.99.

FILM DESCRIPTION: When so many are struggling for connection, inspiration and hope, “Fantastic Fungi” brings us together as interconnected creators of our world. “Fantastic Fungi” is a consciousness-shifting film about the mycelium network that takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet. Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists like Paul Stamets, best-selling authors like Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil and others, we become aware of the beauty, intelligence and solutions that fungi kingdom offers in response to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges.

District 15 + Reclamation:
The Rise at Standing Rock

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access ‘District 15’ free of charge. Check film website for info on ‘Reclamation.’

FILM DESCRIPTION: Sadly, the majority of Los Angeles industrial oil drilling activity takes place in communities of color and low-income communities. “District 15” highlights the hope and tenacity of the young activists of Wilmington, California, as they push the L.A. City Council to prohibit new and existing oil and gas drilling operations within 2,500 feet of homes, schools and hospitals. Communities for a Better Environment is behind this effort. The group does critical work on environmental justice and empowers Californian communities to stand up to polluting industries and build a green energy future.

FILM DESCRIPTION for “Reclamation”: In 2016, Indigenous youth unite the Native Nations and rise up in spiritual solidarity against the Dakota Access Pipeline. These young Native Leaders honor their destiny by leading a peaceful movement of resistance which awakens the world.

Microplastic Madness

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is available to educators for screenings. Check film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Microplastic Madness” is the story of 56 fifth graders from Public School 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, living in the frontline of the climate crisis. Their actions on plastic pollution morph into extraordinary leadership and scalable victories. With stop-motion animation, heartfelt kid commentary, and interviews of experts and renowned scientists who are engaged in the most cutting edge research on the harmful effects of microplastics, this alarming, yet charming narrative, conveys an urgent message in user-friendly terms.

These eleven year olds dive deep into the root causes of plastic pollution. Taking on the roles of citizen scientists and community advocates, they collect local data, lead community outreach, and use their own local data to inform policy by testifying and rallying at City Hall. Then they turned their focus back to school, taking action in their cafeteria to eliminate all single-use plastic!

The New Corporation:
The Unfortunately
Necessary Sequel

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is streaming in Canada and is available via film festivals. Check this website link.

FILM DESCRIPTION: In the face of fracturing societies, climate change, and the hollowing out of democracy, “The New Corporation” is a cry for social justice, deeper democracy, and transformative solutions. From Joel Bakan and Jennifer Abbott, filmmakers of the multi-award-winning global hit “The Corporation,” comes this hard-hitting and timely sequel. “The Corporation” (2003) examined an institution within society. ”The New Corporation” reveals a world now fully remade in the corporation’s image, perilously close to losing democracy. We trace the devastating consequences, connecting the dots between then and now, and inspire with stories of resistance and change from around the world.

Young Filmmakers Contest Awards Celebration

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; see the top 10 student films selected by a jury from 149 submissions.

We invite you to join us for the 9th season of the Young Filmmakers Contest Awards & Screenings. You'll see the incredible films of motivated and inspired young people from ages 8 to 25. Their efforts show us there is a new generation of talented and wise environmental leaders and communicators on the horizon. Join us at the premiere screenings of the winning films, to be inspired by their creativity, and to learn more about the non-profit organizations that will benefit from matching grants the winners receive. Founding Director of the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Sue Crothers will introduce guest host, Adam Joel, of Aggressively Compassionate. He is a former contest winner for the film, "The Green Burger Challenge."

Kiss the Ground

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film via Netflix, Vimeo, or other channels. Check film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Narrated and featuring Woody Harrelson, “Kiss the Ground” is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that explores the first viable solution to our climate crisis. “Kiss the Ground” reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. This movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible–to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species’ future.

The Nature Makers

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is NOT STREAMING YET but is available to educators for $89. Stay tuned to the film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “The Nature Makers” is a moving portrait of passionate people and the extraordinary creatures they’re fighting to preserve. In a world increasingly dominated by humans, three teams of wildlife conservationists go to seemingly unnatural lengths to try to save threatened species and habitat in the American heartland. Stunningly photographed in the Grand Canyon and on the American prairie, “The Nature Makers” follows rugged biologists who’ve deployed helicopters, giant bulldozers and a host of human tools to defend wild nature. In the 21st century, defending the wild often requires, quite paradoxically, technology and aggressive human intervention.

YOUTH v GOV

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is NOT STREAMING YET but is available via film festivals. Check this website link.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “YOUTH v GOV” is the story of America’s youth taking on the world’s most powerful government. Since 2015, 21 plaintiffs, now ages 13 to 24, have been suing the U.S. government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty, personal safety, and property through its willful actions in creating the climate crisis these young people will inherit. This is the story of empowered youth finding their voices and fighting to protect their rights and our collective future. This is a revolution designed to hold those in power accountable for the past and responsible for a sustainable future. And many of the movement’s leaders aren’t even old enough to vote. (Yet.)

Dammed to Extinction + Mermaids Against Plastic: Tamara

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access ‘Dammed’ for $2.99 to $4.99 on Amazon or Vimeo. ‘Mermaids’ will be released on National Geographic’s digital channels soon. Check film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: For eons, a one-of-a-kind population of killer whales has hunted chinook salmon along the Pacific Coast of the United States. For the last 40 years, renowned whale scientist Ken Balcomb has closely observed them. He’s familiar with a deadly pattern, as salmon numbers plummet, the whales starve. These important mammals need roughly a million salmon a year. Where can we find them?

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Mermaids Against Plastic: Tamara,” is a short film revealing the extent of the marine plastic pollution problem in the Mexican Caribbean.

The Great Green Wall

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film will be available in theaters and virtually beginning Earth Day, April 22.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Take an epic journey along Africa's Great Green Wall—an ambitious vision to grow an 8,000km "Wall" of trees stretching across the entire width of the continent to restore land and provide a future for millions of people. Traversing Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Niger and Ethiopia, Malian musician and activist, Inna Modja follows the burgeoning Great Green Wall through Africa’s Sahel region—one of the most vulnerable places on earth (temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average)—laying bare the acute consequences of accelerating climate change the Wall aims to counteract: drought, resource scarcity, radicalization, conflict and migration. By Executive Producer Fernando Meirelles (Academy Award and Golden Globe Nominated Director of City of God and the Constant Gardener).

Becoming Ruby + Maxima

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access ‘Becoming Ruby’ free of charge. ‘Maxima’ is NOT STREAMING YET. Stay tuned to film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Not seeing herself reflected in the community she loves, mountain biker, skier and artist Brooklyn Bell created her own role model: a hand-drawn hero called Ruby J. With Ruby J as a guide, Brooklyn spent the next few years trying to “live like her, breathe like her, be unapologetically black like her,” and in the process shaped her own identity, one that intertwines her love for dirt, snow and art—and a voice with which to advocate for diversity and inclusion.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Maxima” follows Peruvian indigenous farmer Máxima Acuña in her fight to protect her land as she stands up to the largest gold producer in the world: US-based Newmont Mining Corporation. Throughout Máxima’s fight for justice, the film provides an illustrative case study in the tactics used by transnational corporations to commit human rights violations and environmental crimes, the role played by non-profits and The World Bank, and, ultimately, the resilience of one woman who refuses to back down.

Public Trust: The Fight or America’s Public Lands

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Our public lands and waters are under threat. Despite support from voters across the political spectrum, our public lands face unprecedented threats from extractive industries and the politicians in their pockets. Part love letter, part political exposé, “Public Trust” investigates how we arrived at this precarious moment through three heated conflicts—a national monument in the Utah desert, a mine in the Boundary Waters and oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—and makes a case for their continued protection.

Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is NOT STREAMING YET. Stay tuned to the film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust” provides a fresh interpretation of the Japanese American confinement site by examining the environmental and political history behind the World War II camp. Prior to the war, Manzanar was where Native Americans were driven out and farmers and ranchers were bought out by the L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP). By connecting this camp to California’s environmental history, this film shows the intersectionality of how Japanese Americans, Indigenous communities, and locals have been mistreated by government entities that have not served the interests of all of their citizenry.

Together We Cycle

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access the film via another film festival through 4/4, or check the film website for more info.

FILM DESCRIPTION: The film “Together We Cycle” investigates the critical events that have led to the revival of Dutch cycling culture. For most people, cycling in the Netherlands seems a natural phenomenon. However, until the 1970s the development of mobility in the Netherlands followed trends across the globe. The bicycle had had its day, and the future belonged to the car. The only thing that had to be done was to adapt cities to the influx of cars. Then Dutch society took a different turn. Against all odds people kept on cycling. Why this happened in the Netherlands has no easy answer. In “Together We Cycle,” key players tell the story of the bumpy road which led to the current state, where cycling is an obvious choice for most citizens.

Flint: Who Can You Trust?

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is NOT STREAMING YET. Stay tuned to the film website.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Filmed over 5 years and long after the story was front page news, “Flint: Who Can You Trust?” is full of new twists and turns.
Journalist/filmmaker Anthony Baxter goes beyond the headlines in Flint, Michigan, where a government poisoned its own citizens’ water supply, to show the complete breakdown of authority, public trust and faith in the truth itself. “Flint” is a powerful investigation of the breathtaking scope of toxic pseudo-science, celebrity activism, and official negligence. The film reveals the devastating impact on poor people and people of color, which make up the majority of the residents in Flint, as they continue to seek justice and clean water.

Gather: The Fight to Revitalize Our Native Foodways

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $4.99 to $6.99 on Vimeo, iTunes or Amazon.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Gather” is an intimate portrait of the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide. “Gather” follows Nephi Craig, a chef from the White Mountain Apache Nation (Arizona), opening an Indigenous café as a nutritional recovery clinic; Elsie Dubray, a young scientist from the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation (South Dakota), conducting landmark studies on bison; and the Ancestral Guard, a group of environmental activists from the Yurok Nation (Northern California), trying to save the Klamath river.

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film with an Apple TV+ subscription.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth” is about a precocious 7-year-old who, over the course of Earth Day, learns about the wonders of the planet from his parents and from a mysterious exhibit at the aptly titled Museum of Everything. Based on the best-selling book by Oliver Jeffers. Voiced by film stars Chris O'Dowd (Moone Boy), Ruth Negga (Preacher and Loving), Jacob Tremblay (Room and Wonder) and the inimitable Meryl Streep.

2040: The Regeneration

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $12.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Motivated by concerns about the planet that his 4-year-old daughter would inherit, award-winning director Damon Gameau embarked on a global journey to meet innovators and change-makers in the areas of economics, technology, civil society, agriculture, education and sustainability. This journey is the central premise for the documentary “2040,” a story of hope that looks at the very real possibility that humanity could reverse global warming and improve the lives of every living thing in the process. It is a positive vision of what ‘could be’, instead of the dystopian future we are so often warned about.

UseLess: Documentary About Food & Fashion Waste

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; accompanying film is available free on Pluto TV.

FILM DESCRIPTION: In the documentary "UseLess," the filmmakers try to find out why food and fashion waste has become a pressing social and environmental problem, and what we can do to change it. The documentary is seen through the eyes of a young Icelandic mother who is trying to understand the issues and change her ways. Interviews with experts, designers, activists, and producers shed light on the problem as well as offer many solutions to the audience.

Seasons of Change
on Henry’s Farm

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $12.

FILM DESCRIPTION: For a quarter-century, Henry Brockman has worked alongside nature to grow delicious organic vegetables on his idyllic Midwestern farm. But farming takes a toll on his aging body and Henry dreams of scaling back. While his former apprentices run the farm, Henry spends a “fallow year” with his wife Hiroko in Japan. But things don’t turn out as planned, and Henry must grapple with the future of farming in a changing climate on personal, generational, and global levels.

Overload:
America’s Toxic Love Story

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $5.99 on Amazon.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Soozie Eastman learns that hundreds of synthetic toxins are now found in every baby born in America and the government and chemical corporations are doing little to protect citizens and consumers. With guidance from world-renowned physicians and environmental leaders, interviews with scientists and politicians, and stories of everyday Americans, Soozie uncovers how we got to be so overloaded with chemicals and if there is anything we can do to take control of our exposure

Watermelon Magic

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $3.99.

Free virtual screening + discussion for families with children ages 3 to 8+.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Watermelon Magic” chronicles a season on the family farm, as Sylvie grows a patch of watermelons to sell at market. With time, patience, and tender loving care, Sylvie nurtures the seeds from tender sprouts to sprawling vines and flowers that become the fruit that she harvests. But when it's time to say goodbye to her watermelon babies, can she part with them? Journey with Sylvie as she learns how to care for plants in various stages, discovers the magic of growing healthy food in her garden, and realizes the greatest joy of all: sharing

Ay Mariposa and Biomimicry

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying films free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Ay Mariposa” tells a story of three characters in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas whose lives are upended by plans to build a US-Mexico border wall. Meanwhile the butterfly, la mariposa, fights its own daily battle for survival in a landscape where more than 95 percent of its habitat is long gone and much of what remains lies directly in the path of the wall.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Janine Benyus describes how biomimicry has been applied to create design solutions that capture carbon, conserve water, eschew toxic chemicals in favor of structural approaches, and rethink materials, among others.

Beyond Climate

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: British Columbia - Canada’s most westerly province along the Pacific coast - is a hotspot to visualize and experience how global warming affects local environments and communities. Heat waves, droughts, melting glaciers, pest outbreaks, back-to-back record setting forest fires, and changes to the oceans. “Beyond Climate” takes viewers beyond the headlines and into the heart of the issues. Shot throughout the province over many years, the collective wisdom and perspectives of Indigenous leaders, local communities, scientists, and policymakers are featured.

Child of Nature

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film on most streaming services soon.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Captured over the course of three years, “Child of Nature” follows five stories of children from Kenya, Philippines, Syria, Canada, and Germany who, against all odds, are transforming their lives and their communities. These are stories of courage, hope, and generosity that will both amaze the mind and touch the heart.

Thirst for Power

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $89 minimum.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Thirst for Power” is adapted from Dr. Michael E. Webber’s book “Thirst for Power: Energy, Water, and Human Survival.” Combining anecdotes and personal stories with insights into the latest science of energy and water, both the book and the documentary identify a hopeful path toward wise, long-range, water-energy decisions and a more reliable and abundant future for humanity.

Eating Up Easter

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $12 from Music Box Films.

FILM DESCRIPTION: The iconic statues and sensationalized "mysteries" of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) have drawn the interest of the world for centuries, attracting curious visitors to its shores. Today, this tiny, barren island is experiencing an economic boon as tourism skyrockets. Yet the indigenous culture and the island’s fragile environment are suffering. In their own voices, these Rapanui reveal the reality of modern life and the actions they are taking to preserve their culture and environment amidst rapid development. “Eating Up Easter” reveals and suggests ways forward in tackling the universal complexities of balancing growth and sustainability faced by local communities worldwide.

Racing Extinction

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for $4.99.

FILM DESCRIPTION: We are in the midst of the 6th mass extinction. In “Racing Extinction,” a team of artists and activists exposes the hidden world of extinction with never-before-seen images that will change the way we see the planet. Two worlds drive extinction across the globe, potentially resulting in the loss of half of all species. The international wildlife trade creates bogus markets at the expense of creatures that have survived on this planet for millions of years. And the other surrounds us, hiding in plain sight — a world that the oil and gas companies don’t want the rest of us to see.

The Guardians

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: A visually dazzling meditation on the delicate balance between human and nature, “The Guardians” elegantly interweaves the lives of the iconic monarch butterfly with an indigenous community in Mexico. Shot over three years, this intimate documentary takes viewers on a cinematic journey through the butterfly dense mountaintops of Michoacan as the community works to build a sustainable path forward. Rarely has the communion of human and nature been told in such an evocative and surprising way, leaving viewers with a new perspective on the ecological challenges facing us all. In Spanish with English subtitles: everyone is welcome! Teens and young adults encouraged to view. "PG-13" May contain heavy themes, graphic images or language.

A Most Beautiful Thing

RECORDED VIRTUAL DISCUSSION FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film on NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service or Amazon Prime. Or look for screenings at www.amostbeautifulthing.com

FILM DESCRIPTION: Called one of the best documentaries to unveil at South by Southwest by Brian Tallerico of Roger Ebert, an “absolute must watch” by Deadspin, and “a film we could really use right now” by Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter, “one of the best films this decade” by ChicagoNow. “A Most Beautiful Thing,” narrated by the Academy-Award/ Grammy-winning artist, Common; executive-produced by NBA Stars Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade, along with Grammy-award winning producer 9th Wonder; and directed by award-winning filmmaker (and Olympic rower) Mary Mazzio, chronicles the first African American high school rowing team in this country (made up of young men, many of whom were in rival gangs from the West Side of Chicago), all coming together to row in the same boat.

Sustainable

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: A vital investigation of the economic and environmental instability of America’s food system, from the agricultural issues we face—soil loss, water depletion, climate change, pesticide use—to the community of leaders who are determined to fix it. “Sustainable” is a film about the land, the people who work it and what must be done to sustain it for future generations. The narrative of the film focuses on Marty Travis, a seventh-generation farmer in central Illinois who watched his land and community fall victim to the pressures of big agribusiness. Determined to create a proud legacy for his son, Marty transforms his profitless wasteland and pioneers the sustainable food movement in Chicago.

Cooked: Survival by Zip Code

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Chicago suffered the worst heat disaster in U.S history 25 years ago in 1995, when 739 residents mostly—elderly and black—died over the course of one week. As “Cooked” links the heat wave’s devastation back to the underlying manmade disaster of structural racism, it delves deeply into one of our nation’s biggest growth industries: Disaster Preparedness. Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Judith Helfand uses her signature serious-yet-quirky-style as interlocutor and narrator to forge inextricable connections between the cataclysmic natural disasters we’re willing to see and prepare for, and the slow-motion disasters we’re not.

Outdoors While Black: Unpacking History, Reframing Safety, and Taking Action

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTIONS: “This Land” is a short film that tells the story of land access told through a journey of inclusion and empowerment. Runner and filmmaker Faith E. Briggs runs 150 miles through three U.S. National Monuments that lay in the thick of the controversy around public lands. Wildlife ecology professor and birder Drew Lanham wrote “Nine Rules for the Black Birdwatcher,” “Birding While Black,” and “The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature.” He is featured in short films, including “Behind the Binoculars,” which shows his care for what’s behind the binoculars (the people) as well as what’s in front of them (the birds).

Happening:
A Clean Energy Revolution

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: The clean energy revolution is happening right now. Director James Redford (an award-winning filmmaker and Hollywood legend Robert Redford’s son) takes us on a journey into the dawn of the clean energy era as it creates jobs, turns profits, and makes communities stronger and healthier. “Reaching well beyond a story of technology and innovation, "Happening” explores issues of human resilience, social justice, embracing the future, and finding hope for our survival,” says Redford.  

The Biggest Little Farm

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “The Biggest Little Farm” chronicles the 8-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chesters unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imaginations. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, “The Biggest Little Farm” provides us all a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.

Fly By Light

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee or free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: When a group of DC teens pack into a bus and head into the mountains of West Virginia for eight days, they embark on a journey to break the cycles of violence and rewrite their future. For the first time in their lives, the youth play in mountain streams, sing under the stars, and confront the entrenched abuse, violence and neglect cycles of their past. As the healing power of nature works its magic, each teen becomes filled with new plans and ideas. But when the group returns home, the specters of poverty, violence and homelessness confront them. This award-winning film is a darling of the film festival circuit. Its hopeful vibe chronicles the youths’ struggle, but also their strength.

Wasted!
The Story of Food Waste

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: WASTED! The Story of Food Waste aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. The film shows how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century.

Young Filmmakers Contest Honorable Mention Winners

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge.

The 2020 One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest screened nine first place winners on March 7, at the Gene Siskel Film Center, in Chicago. A jury of filmmakers and environmental activists chose these top films from 196 submissions, but scores are always very tight. In this virtual event, we feature the nine, short, Honorable Mention winning films (from elementary school to college level), which were just a hair's breadth away from first place. Zoom discussion with filmmakers from Hawaii to Brooklyn was facilitated by Young Filmmakers Contest Founding Director Sue Crothers.

The Human Element

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Renowned photographer James Balog (prominently featured in “Chasing Ice”) uses his camera to reveal how environmental change is affecting the lives of everyday Americans. Following the four classical elements—air, earth, fire and water—to frame his journey, Balog explores wildfires, hurricanes, sea level rise, coal mining, and the changes in the air we breathe. He takes it further by examining the effects of the fifth element—the human element—to tell an urgent story while giving inspiration for a more balanced relationship between humanity and nature.

Monty and Rose

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: "Monty and Rose" tells the story of a pair of endangered piping plovers that successfully nested at Chicago's Montrose Beach in the summer of 2019, the first of the species to nest in Chicago in 64 years. The film chronicles these special birds and an unpredictable series of events including a proposed music festival that propelled the birds to national headlines. "Monty and Rose" features interviews with an array of key players in the story, including biologists, birders,volunteers and the advocates who spoke out when the music festival was proposed.

Hike the Divide

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge.

FILM DESCRIPTION: “Hike the Divide” follows jaded millennial Connor DeVane 2,700 miles from Canada to Mexico on the Continental Divide Trail as he seeks hope in the face of climate breakdown. The film, structured around a physical journey through environments both harsh and breathtakingly beautiful, shares the stories of the community activists and problem solvers Connor meets, marking a trail from apathy and resignation to hope and engagement.

Why We Cycle

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time; access accompanying film for a small fee.

FILM DESCRIPTION: There are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands, but the Dutch don’t seem to notice what a special bike culture they have. Going beyond the obvious health and economic benefits of cycling, “Why We Cycle” explores the egalitarian nature of cycling, as well as its less-obvious effects on a city’s planning and development, its residents, and society as a whole.

For Children and Families:
The Impossible Way

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge. A collaboration with Kohl Children’s Museum.

FILM DESCRIPTION: Bursting with personality, Grady Roderweiss-O’Brien, a fourth grader from Beye School in Oak Park, Ill., narrates his four-minute film, “The Impossible Way,” about the environmental impact of giving up meat. First, he explains that 28% of emissions are from methane produced by livestock. Giving up meat would mean 300 million fewer cattle raised and slaughtered per year, hence lower emissions. Little brother, Jeff, provides comic relief while Grady explains the facts in this endearing film.

For Children and Families:
We Can All Help the Earth!

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge. A collaboration with Kohl Children’s Museum.

FILM DESCRIPTION: This five-minute film by Zoë and Jada Nevels. of Mann Elementary School in Oak Park, Ill., use stop-motion, green-screen, and live action to explain how electricity is produced, the dangers of using too much fossil fuel, and what each of us can do to reduce our carbon footprint. With the help of lively music and their own charisma, the girls explain the clean energy options and small steps we each can take in our everyday lives.

For Children and Families:
No Time to Waste

RECORDED VIRTUAL EVENT FOR ONLINE VIEWING any time free of charge. A collaboration with Kohl Children’s Museum.

FILM DESCRIPTION: This three-minute film is by 12 fifth grade students from Dryden Elementary School in Arlington Heights, Ill. Through joyful poetry, drawings, song and dance, this group demonstrates abundant ways to make a small environmental impact, from repurposing old crayons to tossing lunch scraps into a compost barrel. On a green screen behind, vibrant digital drawings illustrate the content while beautiful paper cut-out drawings reinforce the message to recycle, reuse, compost, walk and bike.