Now is the perfect time to stay inside and watch a great movie. This fall I conducted campus movie screenings of the following flicks. I would highly recommend them. 

1) Chasing Coral — The filmmakers spent more than three years capturing beautiful underwater footage to tell the story of coral bleaching, why reefs are disappearing, and why saving the remaining reefs is so important.

https://www.chasingcoral.com/

2) Mother: Caring for 7 Billion - The award-winning independent film explores how population growth intersects with gender equity, religion, reproductive health, economic inequality, and the environment. It features the stories of real women breaking free of expectations to have large families, as well as insights from experts and scientists.

https://www.tiroirafilms.net/mothercaringfor7billion

3) Racing Extinction - Scientists predict that a million wild plant and animal species will go extinct in the coming decades due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change and other human-caused problems. The film explores the hidden parts of our planet and just what’s at stake in the age of extinction. 

https://racingextinction.com/film/

In my airline travels this fall, I caught the following film which was a wonderful depiction of why biodiversity is so important. 

4) Biggest Little Farm - This documentary chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chester’s unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.

https://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com/ 

An anti-”Black Friday” discount code was shared with me to watch this movie for free. I loved it. 

5) Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth - Water shortages, hunger, peak oil, species extinction, and even increasing depression are all symptoms of a deeper problem – addiction to unending growth in a world that has limits. This film examines the cultural barriers that prevent us from reacting rationally to the evidence that current levels of population and consumption are unsustainable. It shows how we can make the shift to a sustainable model that will be good for us. 

http://www.growthbusters.org/growthbusters-the-movie/ 

Hot off the presses: This movie was just released in December of 2019 and I got a sneak peek. I highly recommend watching it with your partner, friends and family to help drive these conversations without stigma.

6) To Kid or Not to Kid - This film aims to dispel the myth that living childfree is weird, selfish or somehow wrong. In a world where you’re threatened for speaking openly about living childfree, two women, from different decades, search for ways to support each other in making the decision to live without kids. 

https://www.tokidornottokid.com/

My colleague, Stephanie Feldstein (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-feldstein-2953412/), at the Center for Biological Diversity recommends these films.

7) Anthropocene: The Human Epoch — At the intersection of art and science, this movie witnesses in an experiential and non-didactic sense a critical moment in geological history — bringing a provocative and unforgettable experience of our species’ breadth and impact.

https://theanthropocene.org/film/ 

8) Our Planet — This documentary is a groundbreaking, four-year collaboration between Netflix, Silverback Films and WWF. It explores the rich natural wonders, iconic species and wildlife spectacles that still remain, and reveals the key issues that urgently threaten their existence. Today, we have become the greatest threat to the health of our planet. Narrated by David Attenborough.

https://www.ourplanet.com/en/ 

9) Sea of Shadows — This movie has brought together a powerful coalition of scientists, investigators, activists, politicians and nonprofits working together to save the vaquita and to help highlight the plight of endangered species across the globe. The film shines a spotlight on the links between wildlife crime, global security and economic instability, mobilizing audiences to help advance policy and on-the-ground protections.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/films/sea-of-shadows/en/ 

10) The Game Changers — Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos and executive-produced by big names including James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan, this movie explores how elite athletes have discovered the power of plant-based eating. As noted by the Center for Biological Diversity, while not specifically an environmental movie, this film busts common myths around meat, protein and strength, adding to the evidence in support of Earth-friendly diets.

https://gamechangersmovie.com/

Do you have a favorite documentary that isn't listed here but should be?