The Redford Center proudly announces the selection of six visionary environmental filmmakers and film projects set to receive additional funding from the organization as part of its signature Redford Center Grants program. The films, which were selected because of their high impact potential and unique creative approaches, will receive a combined total of $400,000 to support the completion of their projects and to advance their impact efforts and goals.
The Redford Center’s grants program is generously funded by The New York Community Trust, Walton Foundation, Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, Code Blue Charitable Foundation, Farvue Foundation, Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, and GoPro, as well as numerous individual donors. The filmmakers in receipt of the funds are telling stories of leaders driving change in Siberia, Mexico, Montana, and the Klamath basin. The films share themes of resilience and restoration and showcase how community-led efforts are advancing environmental solutions all over the world. Collectively, the films expose the human cost of coal, explore the intelligence inherent in plants, document the largest dam removal project in world history, celebrate the revival of the Blackfoot Nation’s land and culture, showcase local solutions to illegal port fishing, and unveil secrets from the world of fungi and the indigenous women safeguarding them.
Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, shared her enthusiasm for the projects and emphasized their importance at this moment of unprecedented urgency “These stories are antidotes to apathy, to denial, to disengagement and we need them more now than we ever have. Not only are they being exquisitely crafted, by some of the most passionate, committed filmmakers I’ve met, they are leading us toward a future we know is possible and putting it within reach. They were selected for their ambition to influence policy change; to drive community engagement and repair, and to deepen humanity’s connection to nature. And I have no doubt they will succeed in impacting all of these positive
outcomes.”
In addition to providing financial support to the projects, Redford Center Grants provides professional development to grantee filmmakers and gives them access to a board of advisors made up of esteemed environmental and film industry leaders that hail from groups including Catapult Film Fund, Doc Society, Earth Alliance, FilmAid, HiddenLight Productions, KindHumans, Nia Tero, Pacific Islanders in Communications, and Sub-Genre.
Catapult Film co-founder and president Lisa Kleiner Chanoff has served as an advisor since the program’s inception in 2016. After being part of the grantmaking deliberation, she commented on the quality of the projects in the cohort. “It’s a privilege to be connected to the brilliant filmmakers and communities driving change for our planet. Their work fills me with hope for a brighter future and fuels my belief that these films will inspire and mobilize people worldwide. The deliberation was undoubtedly challenging, as there is no shortage of remarkable stories waiting to be seen and supported. It reaffirms my commitment to this program, knowing that there is an abundance of environmental narratives and remedies awaiting the opportunity and resources to have impact.”
The Redford Center extends heartfelt thanks to its Grants Advisory Board for their invaluable support and guidance as mentors to the filmmakers and program. Their expertise has been instrumental in supporting these powerful projects.
Meet the Six Awarded Films:
Black Snow
Directed by Alina Simone, Produced by Kirstine Barfod
When residents of a remote Siberian coal mining settlement discover an abandoned Soviet mine has caught fire beneath their neighborhood, they turn to homemaker-turned-journalist Natalia Zubkova for help. But after Natalia’s independent news coverage goes viral, she finds herself the target of a massive government disinformation campaign.
Bring Them Home
Directed by Daniel Glick, Ivy MacDonald, and Ivan MacDonald
Bring Them Home tells the story of a small group of Blackfoot people and their mission to establish the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral territory since the species’ near-extinction a century ago, an act that would restore the land, re-enliven traditional culture and bring much needed healing to their community.
Kay
Directed by Jimena Mancilla and Ángel Linares
A group of fishers from the complex port of Celestun, Mexico, join forces to tackle overexploitation and illegal fishing by creating a Fishing Refuge Zone. For their project to succeed and rescue some of the almost extinct marine species in the area, they will have to convince a fractured community that has been divided due to years of misunderstandings.
Seeing Green
Directed by Su Rynard, Produced by Nadine Pequeneza
Seeing Green tells the story of three scientific renegades; a forester, a philosopher, and a botanist who listen and learn from plants. Outliers in their fields, they have persevered through controversy and pushed boundaries to become who they are. Is the world finally waking up to their message?
The Queendom
Directed by Otilia Portillo, Produced by Paula Arroio and Elena Fortes
Liz, July and Belen are unlikely heroes: instead of weapons or shields, they carry baskets to collect mushrooms. These indigenous scientists and activists lead this immersive docu-sci fi journey through Mexico’s forests to unveil secrets from the Queendom — the world of fungi and those whose lives intertwine with it.
Undamming Klamath
Directed by Shane Anderson, Produced by Maya Craig
An indigenous movement spanning generations forges an unlikely alliance that leads to the largest river restoration project ever undertaken. The unprecedented removal of four legacy dams holds the promise of reviving the health of both the river and the communities that depend on it.
For more information about Redford Center Grants and to learn more about the films and filmmakers, please visit https://redfordcenter.org/grants.
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About The Redford Center:
Co-founded in 2005 by activists and filmmakers Robert Redford and James Redford, The
Redford Center is a nonprofit that advances environmental solutions through the power of
stories that move. As one of the only US-based nonprofits solely dedicated to environmental
impact filmmaking, The Redford Center develops and invests in projects that foster action and strengthen the reach of the grassroots efforts powering the environmental movement. Over the years, The Redford Center has produced three award-winning feature documentaries and more than 40 short films, supported over 150 film and media projects with grants and other services, inspired the creation of 550 student films, and dispersed more than $19 million to environmental film projects, amplifying change-making environmental solutions to millions of people worldwide. Learn more at www.redfordcenter.org.