One of the 90 or so films chosen for screenings at the Sundance Film Festival was Daughters, a documentary directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton. It’s a beautiful, inspiring and moving film, a perfect example of the power of independent work to shift perspectives with personal stories we might not otherwise see.
Read MoreReflecting on Our Sundance Journey: A Roller Coaster Ride Towards Change
Guest Post By Angela Patton
Daughters is a new documentary by filmmakers Natalie Rae and Angela Patton that received the Audience Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival last month. The film was inspired by a TEDWomen Talk that Angela gave in 2012. I asked Angela to share her experiences at the festival as a first-time director.
Reflections on the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Having just returned from my 30th year of the Sundance Film Festival, I am sharing some thoughts about how this festival, widely respected as the premiere festival for launching new work and discovering new talent, reflects an ever evolving global ecosystem of independent films, and how this impacts what you and I are viewing on our screens, big and small.
Read MoreNot one woman on the list.
Earlier this month, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev announced the organizing committee for COP29, which will be held there in November. The list included 28 appointees, including Azeri government ministers of energy, health, finance and economy, among others. What the list did not include: women.
Read MoreGo See This Film This Weekend!
Ava DuVernay's new film, Origin, is a breathtaking film that “explores the mystery of history, the wonders of romance and a fight for the future of us all.”
Read MoreSome good news for a change!
A focus on the dangers and impacts of climate change, while important, is only part of the solution. Climate doomism, that overwhelming feeling that things are so bad there is nothing we can do, is real and, in my opinion, equally dangerous.
Read MoreIt matters where we spend our time (and money) online
We can all be more responsible content producers as well as more responsible content consumers because what we write and post, and where we consume that content matters — a lot!
Read MoreThe call for a transition away from fossil fuels is a historic step.
As we near the end of the hottest year on record, some good news for the planet. The COP28 Global Stocktake agreement has been signed, sealed and delivered, and for the first time ever, nearly 200 countries declared that the age of fossil fuels must come to an end. Now the real work begins.
Read MoreThe Transition Is Unstoppable
I hope you are following the events in Dubai where COP28 (the UN climate conference) is happening. So far, the reviews are mixed and the eventual impact is uncertain, but one thing is clear: never has it been more urgent or necessary for the world’s leaders to unite for the solutions, policies, and commitments that will ensure a climate safe world for everyone.
Read MoreRemembering the life and work of First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Her “best” changed more than just the role or expectations for first ladies — she changed lives.
Read More‘If you care for the land, the land will take care of you’
This year, since we will gather in Georgia, on land that was once the homeland of multiple Indigenous communities, I want to honor and acknowledge the history of what happened here before and what is happening now.
Read MoreWhat is COP and why should we pay attention?
COP28 begins soon – the 28th Climate Change Conference of its kind. Women should be at the table for every decision and commitment made during COP, but we know that will likely not be the case. That’s why I’d like to share a powerful event coming up that brings women’s voices to the forefront of these conversations.
Read More‘Action is the antidote to despair’
As Joan Baez, one of my favorite songwriters/performers/activists from my political ‘coming of age’ era, once said, "Action is the antidote to despair." Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States, and voting is one action we can all take as US citizens — and a privilege for every person living in a democratic country — to fend off the despair so easily experienced given the wars, the violence, and the rollback on rights in so many places today.
Read More“Today’s dark hour must be a catalyst for change.”
This week, among the many strong statements made by global organizations about the current situation, I was particularly inspired by the one published by The Elders, an organization of global leaders founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela who are "working for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet."
Read MoreWomen Speak Out for Pathway to Peace
Today, reflecting on the violence in Israel and Gaza, I am remembering — and honoring — the women who have been tirelessly working for a sustainable peace in the region for decades, some of whom I met and interviewed while making the 1991 documentary, “Women In War: Voices From the Frontlines.”
Read MoreHere I am at 80.... Still movement building!
In developing Project Dandelion, we've spent a lot of time thinking about what ingredients are necessary for a successful social movement in 2023. Even though the ways we organize have changed (social media, email and Zoom make it a whole lot easier to connect), the truth is that what is needed for a successful social movement to be launched, sustained and successful in outcomes is essentially the same as when I started organizing in college.
Read MoreSeeding a Movement for Climate Justice
Over the last few weeks, Project Dandelion, a women-led global movement for climate justice, has been very active. Energized by the connections we’ve made during our learning journey to better understand how to elevate and amplify the important work we’ve observed, we are more convinced than ever that leading for a just transition from the current crisis is the challenge — and yes, the opportunity — for all women to show up, speak out, and come together, connected by a vision of the future that is in our hands.
Read MoreBrazil — and the potential for consequential impact
There can’t be anything more motivating for each of us than knowing that what we do or don’t do will determine the planet's future.
Read MoreAdvice for Aging Well? Get More Engaged!
From the climate crisis to the rollback on rights, to the threats democracies are facing on nearly every continent, there is an ever increasing need for each and every one of us to get more engaged, give more and have more impact.
Read MoreA Tribute to Jess Search
Jess Search, a formidable force in the documentary community, and in the lives of all who knew her or worked with her as co-founder of the Doc Society, died last week from brain cancer at the age of 54. She was a passionate fighter for justice and independent voices, and a beloved and brilliant friend.
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