Climate change is here. What story will you tell?

Commissioner Ted Terry and Resilient DeKalb are teaming up to present a Free 2026 Climate Film Festival on Friday, October 23 (6:00 PM - 9:30 PM) and Saturday, October 24 (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM), at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center.

The two-day festival will include screenings of two featured films -- 'Groundswell' which tells the story of a global movement of regenerative agriculture restoring farms, land and ecosystems, and 'The Tree Economy' which explores the tension between urban development and Atlanta's massive tree canopy -- alongside a selection of short films submitted by Georgia-based filmmakers and creatives.

Bringing together filmmakers, artists, conservationists, educators, community leaders, and neighbors, the event will celebrate the power of film while also confronting difficult topics of climate change, ecological crises, and humanity's impact on our planet. Through film screenings, thought-provoking panels, interactive art experiences, and conversation, we will seek to address the climate-related problems facing us while also instilling hope for a better tomorrow.

Have a film you would like to submit?

Georgia-based creatives are invited to submit their short films and short-form video clips for the juried short films portion of the event, held on Saturday afternoon. We are seeking:

• Documentaries
• Narrative film
• Student & Youth Media
• Community Storytelling & Digital Media (Tik-Tok videos & Reels accepted)
• Photography & Creative Works
• Animation

Submissions due September 8. Click here to submit today!

Festival Schedule

Friday, October 23: Meet the Artists

• 6:00 PM Doors Open - Community Reception
• 6:45 PM Welcome Remarks
• 7:00 PM The Tree Economy Screening - Watch the Trailer!
• 9:00 PM Closing Remarks
• 9:30 PM Doors Close

Saturday, October 24: Climate Film Festival

• 10:00 AM Doors Open
  • Interactive Community Art Experiences
  • Community Partner Expo
• 10:30 AM Opening Ceremony
• 11:00 AM Climate Action in DeKalb County
• 11:30 AM Georgia Climate Film Showcase
• 1:00 PM Intermission
• 1:30 PM Groundswell Screening - Watch the Trailer!
• 3:05 PM Artist Panel Discussion
• 3:50 PM Closing Remarks
• 4:00 PM End