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.

Festival Schedule

Friday, October 23: Meet the Artists

• James Schroeder, Director of 'The Tree Economy'
• Ryan Jones, Founder & Executive Director of Black Empowerment for Environmental Sustainability (BEES)
  
• Pam Longobardi, Regents’ Professor of Art, Emeritus, Georgia State University, and Founder, Drifters Project
• Anaya "eco" Martin, EcoArtist, Creative Director, and Sustainability Coordinator
  
• Moderated by: Renee Rayles, Actor and Award-Winning TV Reporter, GA Film & TV

Saturday, October 24: Climate Film Festival

• Kathryn Kolb, EcoAddendum
• Tasha L. J. Messer, DeKalb County Park Naturalist
• Ethel Richards, iEatMorePlants
• Moderated by: DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry

6:00 PM Doors Close