Climate Film Festival 2025

Set against an otherworldly landscape, this experimental short traces the metamorphosis of a larva into a mosquito, unraveling a layered exploration of identity, migration, and estrangement. Through a sensorial, hybrid form that blends microscopic footage with alienesque terrains, the film follows the mosquito's passage through unfamiliar environments as it struggles to understand its own body and purpose. Disoriented and unmoored, the insect becomes a vessel for broader existential questions, transformation and displacement. Shot on expired 16mm film along the northeastern coast of Brazil, the film evokes both decay and discovery.

What does it mean to be of a place? Of the sun and soil and bees, of the water and black ants and cowpeas. To be so entangled with an ecosystem, generation after generation, that nature and culture become one? Clans living in Tharaka, Kenya, have been subjected to colonialism and all that follows. Their indigeneity unthreaded by a powerful few pulling the world apart for profit. But Atharaka – 'those of Tharaka' – are remembering the power in their identity. Beside the Kithino River, they are reviving customs and enabling nature to regenerate: rethreading a complex biocultural system that brings balance, autonomy, and joy.

Climate change and poverty lead to repeated hunger crises in Malawi. Many people leave in the hope of a better life in the cities or other countries. The village community of Beni no longer wants to accept this. The documentary accompanies young adults in their fight against drought, poverty and hunger. They plant trees, organize a savings group and support each other. The film not only provides insights about the consequences of the global climate crisis and the causes of flight, but above all conveys a feeling for the reality of people's lives through calm images and scenic observations.

For over 50 years, Tim Birkhead has dedicated his life to studying a resilient bird colony on the brink of survival. Once nearly wiped out, the birds have fought their way back - but new threats now loom on the horizon. As Tim grapples with their uncertain future, he also faces a deeper question: what will become of his life's work?

As seconds turn into minutes, and minutes into years, the relentless erosion of the Sittaung River steadily devours the land. U Pwar Gyi and his wife witness the destruction of homes, farmlands, and the painful separations of friends and families. This documentary captures the villagers' resilience as they rebuild their lives, wondering how much longer Nat Yay Kan can endure by the river.

When residents of a remote Siberian city discover an abandoned coal mine has caught fire beneath their neighborhood, pushing toxic gas into their homes, they turn to homemaker-turned-journalist Natalia Zubkova for help.

Open a bottle of climate anxiety. Pour the contents into a hot pot under high pressure. Then add a teaspoon of horror, a tablespoon of anger and three drops of deep disappointment in humanity. Let it all come to a boil while you invite a group of scientific researchers who don't know each other, but know all about the fact that the end of the world is near. Let the scientists spice up the dish with their most suppressed feelings about climate change and the future of the planet. And last but not least, bring in a professional group therapist who isn't afraid of an awkward silence to get them to sit in a circle and share their feelings with each other.

In a not-too-distant future ravaged by climate crisis, a team of scientists analyse the archival footage of farmers from the past, in an attempt to understand their connection to the land. In this beautifully shot blend of documentary and fiction, Gregor Božić pays warm tribute to the old growers of the Goriška region in Western Slovenia, who appreciated fruit as more than merely a product for sale.

Inspired by recent scientific studies on acoustic enrichment showing that sound diffusion in damaged environments can help their restoration, four women field recordists are playing back recordings in clear-cut areas, activating the landscape like a distant memory of lost species. Shown like a performative act of care through sound, the film is a slow observation of our changing environment.

Comprised entirely of archival footage from U.S. propaganda and home videos sourced from the public domain, this film is an open letter to the place of dreams - what it has been, and what it could be. The associated poem, "Dreamland," addresses the complicated history of the role American idealism played in covering up global decimation. There is a communal longing for a simpler time, but what does that time actually refer to? How can we remember and examine the past to forge a better future?

In the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, the Indigenous town of Cherán did what no one thought possible: it kicked out the cartels, shut down illegal logging, and took back control of its future. "Enraizados" (Our Roots Remain) follows the community's transformation from uprising to self-rule through the lives of three generations shaped by the movement. Susy, a teenage street artist, turns local memory into public art. Paco, an environmental engineer, works to restore the land while building systems independent of the state. And Geno, one of the rebellion's first organizers, looks back on the cost of standing up, and what it takes to keep going.

An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply.

A young girl unveils the truth about her surroundings and endeavors to transform her city.

A polyphonic narrator – filmmaker, parent, forest, insects, fungi, childcare worker – declares their absolute refusal of labor exploitation, and their necessity to join collective bodies in resistance.

Brandon and Royal are among a small group of firefighters in California who were trained while incarcerated and managed to break through and become professional firefighters post-release, but that's not the story for most of their peers. After securing their own careers, they decided to take matters into their own hands and start their own nonprofit and fire department. Firebreak follows Brandon, Royal and their third group of trainees as they make their way through Brandon and Royal's tough training program.

Millions of children around the world are frustrated by the dire lack of action to protect the planet and their future. Until now, their only avenue to express these concerns has been protesting on the streets.

Guilt Trip follows George and Todd, former pilots whose lifelong dream of flying turns into an emotional reckoning with the environmental impact of their industry. Through candid interviews, archive footage, and real-life moments, we follow them as they journey from starry-eyed, plane-obsessed boys to activists grappling with eco-anxiety, advocating for a just transition for aviation workers.

As the Naadam summer festival approaches, horse trainer Amraa and 11-year-old jockey Jantska prepare their stallion for the race. Jantska dreams of becoming a racehorse trainer, but Amraa hesitates to encourage this path, as climate change increasingly threatens their way of life. Set in Mongolia, one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change, the film reveals how even the cherished tradition of horse racing is being impacted. Through the story of Amraa's family, it portrays the physical and emotional struggles of Mongolia's broader nomadic communities, offering a perspective on the cultural erosion intensified by climate change.

MEG protests her town hall's approval to double the fracking that has been drilling the land for decades. In an effort to relax, she microdoses magic mushrooms and starts another day working at the family restaurant with her sick father, JACK. Their typical routine is interrupted when the CEO of the fracking company and his bodyguard arrive to dine. Believing that the fracking is poisoning the town and played a hand in her mother's death, Meg refuses to serve the men. Jack, however, exists in deep denial, knowing they need the fracking company's business to survive.

How to Change the World is an episodic documentary series that shines a light on global change makers in the social entrepreneur space. These are people dedicating their lives to solving large problems where the stakes are high, both personally and socially. The lightning rod of the NoDAPL movement at Standing Rock was the catalyst for SAGE, a native owned and run company whose goal is to create energy independence and generational wealth for the native Lakota people. To accomplish this, SAGE CEO Joseph McNeil is working with free solo climber and conservationist, Alex Honnold, to bring solar energy to The Standing Rock Nation, which is also the first important step towards a transformational wind farm.

"The Human Fossil" is an animated short film about alien archaeologist Soo's mesmerizing encounter with the relics of human civilization. Initially perplexed by the ceramic artifacts she found, Soo performs amusing experiments on them, even riding on a toilet bowl. However, when Soo immerses broken bowls and mugs in water, she witnesses vivid flashbacks from their ancient owners thousands of years ago.

A young girl growing up in the Indigenous-held forests of central Borneo follows ancient connections to earn the gift of a story – her People's 1973 fight to preserve their lands amid rampant deforestation.

A suburb in Southern California comes together to create a community and heal from loss.

A modern-day take on Upton Sinclair's shocking 1906 novel, The Jungle unravels centuries of greed and exploitation in America's meat industry and reveals how indigenous knowledge may hold the key to creating an equitable food system for both people and the planet. Featuring former New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman, the film chronicles generations of profit-driven conglomerates manipulating our food system, destroying ecosystems, and exacerbating climate change. Industry insiders detail the roadmap for today's corporate dominance. Simultaneously, slaughterhouse laborers fight for justice against relentless worker abuse. Others, like Paige and Derrick Jackson, have lost trust in the system, radically changing their lives to raise their own food. Committed to rebuilding our perpetually broken meat industry, Minnesota farmer Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin begins to graze his chickens using an indigenous technique. The effects are a revelation. Could this very simple method offer a clue toward solving the great American meat problem?

In a dystopian future where the Philippine archipelago is mostly submerged in seawater, a Mother-doctor, along with other experts comes up with an unconventional solution to save the future Filipino generation. An operation that to some is a medical farce. An extremely risky procedure that will turn children into the likeness of a Visayan mythical creature - the Kataw. Despite the risk, she is driven by dire circumstances to do it to her child.

Kelp Currency explores the critical role kelp forests play in fighting climate change—and why they've been largely overlooked in the global climate conversation. The film follows the SeaTrees Kelp Carbon Science Project and groundbreaking research from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as they work to quantify the carbon benefits of wild kelp forests and unlock funding for large-scale restoration. With up to 90% of California's kelp forests lost in some areas, this timely documentary makes the case for investing in one of the ocean's most powerful climate solutions.

Kuhaan, adapted from Mujtaba Hussain's satirical story Pani 2050, is a poignant dystopian tale set in a future where water is not just scarce — it's currency. Amidst this arid reality, a young mother embarks on a desperate quest to uncover the cause of a mysterious hump forming on her little son's spine. As she seeks answers from the sage to modern doctors, what unfolds is not a medical mystery, but a chilling revelation: nature is responding to humanity's unquenchable greed. Kuhaan is a powerful reflection on environmental neglect, survival, and the unforeseen consequences of exploiting the earth's most vital resource.

A community garden brought moments of happiness to an entire community. For Henry, it was a safe haven. If only they could decide on how to save the garden before it's demolished.

This short film about forever unfolds from the POVs of father (Max Romey) and son (Kip) as they attempt to write a book about what forever means. The father feels overwhelmed by all of the threats to forever, like forever chemicals, and calls an unlikely hero – Mark Ruffalo – to ask for help seeing the big picture.

Inside the world's most prestigious culinary school, 21 of America's hottest young chefs compete in a cut throat competition to see who is worthy of being crowned as a generational talent. In this episode, watch the chefs use culinary byproducts as the main ingredient for their dessert creation.

Ngarridurndeng Kured (We Going Home Now) follows Dean Yibarbuk, his family and and the Indigenous Fire Rangers he leads into the heart of Kuwarddewardde. Here ancient rhythms and traditional practices combine with western science to create a unique relationship to guard against devastating wildfires and support the return of Binninj Nawarddeken to their traditional homelands and ways of living in the bush.

Accompanied by two botanical guides, a group of hikers embarks on a journey through the enchanting landscapes of Arrábida Natural Park. As they traverse the park's diverse flora and fauna, they uncover evidence of a troubling transformation: rather than the work of nature, it becomes clear that human intervention is reshaping this once-pristine environment.

In a coastal village where the sea gives and takes in equal measure, Peixinho follows the story of one young man defying the tide of generational fear and disconnection. Once unable to swim himself, he now teaches local children how to float, dive, and reclaim their relationship with the ocean — not as something to be feared, but as something to be understood and protected. As he inspires the next generation with water safety and ocean literacy, he also works with elders in his community to encourage more sustainable fishing practices, bridging science and tradition with humility and hope.

In a world where memories blur into dreams, a young woman navigate shifting realities in search of her true identities. As time bends and moments repeat, she is drawn into a surreal journey that forces her to confront what is real and what is imagined. The Persistence of Memory becomes a meditation on how the past lingers, shaping the people we become.

Bolivia's Lake Poopó has evaporated, and the Uru-Murato community face the cultural and economic consequences of what it means to be Qotzuñis, People of the Lake.

Aniya is a young dance artist in Houston, Texas, who embarks on a journey to heal her spirit and find her voice after being displaced by a hurricane. With guidance from her mentor, Aniya investigates impacted communities on the Gulf Coast and develops a dance performance inspired by her experiences and the complex legacies of environmental injustice. Family, religion, sexuality, and mental health collide as she strives to transform dark histories into beautiful expression and movement. Through intimate observational cinematography, evocative dance sequences, and a haunting score, Aniya's story traces the agony and the ecstasy of growing up, while revealing the power of art and community.

An 11 year old narrates and her step dad animates a story of the Red Wolf getting tattled on for something it didn't do. Ecological fallout follows.

In the fastest-warming place on Earth, two friends and their canine sidekick uncover how the world's smallest and fattest reindeer are thriving because of rising temperatures. But are they seeing a positive side-effect of climate change in the Arctic, or witnessing the end of innocence for Svalbard reindeer?

River of Grass is a poetic meditation on the Florida Everglades's fugitive past, present, and future inspired by the late feminist environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas's 1947 book of the same title .

Sayu-limpia is a heartwarming and eye-opening short documentary that tells the story of Sayulita—a once-pristine surf town turned bustling tourist hub. At its core is Chilly-Willy, a beloved elder and tireless guardian of Mexico's coastline, whose efforts embody the spirit of community resilience. Alongside Chilly-Willy, local residents work together to reclaim their polluted paradise by organizing clean-ups, building waste infrastructure, and creating educational opportunities for the next generation. The film is a celebration of these environmental heroes.

In the Peruvian Amazon, an Indigenous community make a bio-material alternative to animal-derived and synthetic leather while defending their land. Working with the sap from the native shiringa tree, Awajún people carve fine lines into trees to make this material, healing the trees with soil and leaving them to rest. The film follows this making process, the community's connection to their land, and how they work with material innovator Caxacori Studio. Designer Mozhdeh Matin is seen working with the material.

Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick & Sprout is a vibrant educational series that blends science, music, and storytelling to spark curiosity and climate action for young learners and their grownups. Each episode follows Suzie Hicks, a real-life climate advocate, and Sprout, a curious sunflower, as they break down big climate ideas in fun, age-appropriate ways. Designed to support both at-home learning and classroom engagement, the series combines playful humor with emotional check-ins, joyful songs, and real-world adventures with Climate Champions making a difference. From explaining how the atmosphere works to exploring clean energy and nature's incredible resourcefulness, Suzie and Sprout guide kids through the science of how our planet works—and how we can protect it together. With a YouTube-first model and free educator resources, the series invites young viewers into a joyful, hopeful community where they can learn, connect, and take action together to protect our planet.

Haunted by rising sea levels, a daughter digs up her father's grave to move his body to higher ground.

Trade Secret follows three unlikely allies on a mission to protect polar bears from international commercial trade. Filmed over six years across nine countries, the film exposes the sanctioned sale of hundreds of polar bears each year on the global market. But as the investigation deepens, it uncovers a disturbing truth: those entrusted with safeguarding the species may be entangled in their continued commercialisation. The film raises urgent questions about how we protect vulnerable species in a world where the lines between protection and exploitation have become blurred.

Amidst harsh winter conditions, Patagonia Park Argentina's rewilding team works to dismantle deadly fences – enabling guanacos to continue their ancestral migrations unimpeded. This effort is part of their remarkable mission to restore the Patagonian steppe. This 12-minutes short wildlife documentary is a journey into the heart of Patagonia Park, Argentina, where the spectacle of winter migrations unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing rewilding efforts.

When George H.W. Bush won the presidency in 1988, scientists had already been warning for years of the dangers of global warming. Bush promised to counter the "greenhouse effect" with the "White House Effect," but his administration's ties to the fossil fuel industry soon undermined efforts to environmentalist intentions. This sobering yet humorous all-archival film offers captivating flashbacks to the early days of the climate crisis, raising questions about what might have been if our government was accountable to the will of its people and the health of our planet.

Millions of birds pass through our yards during their bi-annual migrations, but they face an invisible killer along the way: glass windows. In the US alone, an estimated one billion birds die each year when they collide with windows. Now, two organizations help pave the way to a bird-friendly future.

A feral girl who has spent her life living among wolves is taken on an odyssey through contemporary human life while the threat of climate apocalypse looms.