DCEFF in Review
Over the past week I’ve had the pleasure of attending the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF), the largest environmental film festival in the world. This year’s festival had an excellent selection of films with something perfect for everyone: coming-of-age stories that pull at the heartstrings, feminist adventure stories, climate action inspiration, and more.
The films I watched have reinvigorated me for climate action. As an environmental activist, hearing stories and seeing what other people are accomplishing in their areas reinvigorates me to keep doing this work. The diverse set of narratives DCEFF featured paint a larger picture of the environmental and climate movement across the world.
Even though the festival is over, I still suggest seeking out the films DCEFF featured this year. The festival has a wonderful archive of past festival films and where to watch them.
If you want to know what I recommend, I’ve listed my Top 5 from this year’s DCEFF below.
My Top 5 Films from DCEFF 30
Beans (2020)
Directed by Tracey DeerStream for free on Hulu or Hoopla
Beans is easily my favorite film from this year’s festival. Deer’s script and direction for this story about a preteen Mohawk girl coming-of-age is endlessly moving. Kiawentiio, who plays the titular character, delivers a breathtaking performance that perfectly balances the awkward space between childhood and adolescence.
This is — and I don’t say this lightly — one of the best coming-of-age films of the last ten years.
Devil Put the Coal in Ground (2021)
Directed by Lucas Sabean and Peter Hutchison
Directors Sabean and Hutchison bring the oral storytelling traditions of West Virginia to life in Devil Put the Coal in the Ground, a documentary about the coal industry’s effects on West Virginians. In highlighting a wide array of individual voices, the documentary presents a full picture of the crisis in the state. The issue of coal and transitioning to fully renewable energy is complicated — and this film dives into why we don’t just need a transition, we need a just transition.
Breaking Trail (2021)
Directed by Jesse Roesler
Emily Ford is the first woman and first person of color to complete Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail in the winter. Short documentary Breaking Trail follows her journey on the trail while discussing the history of people of color in outdoor spaces and the social politics of America during Ford’s hike. This film may be short, but the stunning cinematography coupled with Ford’s unmatched charisma make it an epic adventure.
Scenes from the Glittering World (2021)
Directed by Jared Jenkins
Scenes from the Glittering World follows the lives of three Navajo teenagers who navigate growing up and their cultural identities. Not only is this film absolutely beautiful, but it also is an in-depth look at the lives of teenagers on the reservation. Each of the teen subjects is charming in their own way, but Ilii Neang is the documentary’s standout.
The film is not yet available to stream, but once it is, I highly recommend watching it.
Humanity Has Not Yet Failed
Directed by Norma V. Toraya and Jared P. Scott
Everyone knows Greta Thunberg. The 19-year-old Swedish activist has been at the forefront of climate action since 2018. In Humanity Has Not Yet Failed, Toraya and Scott take one of Thunberg’s impassioned speeches about the scam of “business as usual” and empty promises of world leaders and politicians and make it even more damning through animation.
The film is available for free and I implore everyone to watch — it’s under 8 minutes long and may be just what you need to move forward with climate action.
