Heart of the Movement Documentary Film
LOGLINE:
A film following the lives of youth climate organizers trying to stir up mass resistance to Trump’s administration's authoritarian outreach, while navigating life as twenty-somethings in the U.S.
OVERVIEW
In between navigating their twenties as young people under Trump’s America, at the heart of the current youth climate movement lie the untold stories of Black and Latine organizers working to push our government to act with the scale and urgency with which the climate crisis demands. But given the shifting political environment, these young people aren’t just fighting to stop climate change… they’re also organizing to prevent this country, the U.S., from falling into a pit of authoritarianism that will not only make life increasingly more difficult and oppressive for communities across the country but also make stopping the worst effects of climate change nearly impossible.
This project aspires to tell, in the fierce urgency of now, the stories of these young people. Who are they and what motivates them? How were they pulled into climate organizing? How have they pivoted in their organizing in response to Trump’s aggressive acceleration towards authoritarianism? How are their communities being impacted? What does organizing look like under this administration? And finally, where do we go from here?
TEAM
Dejah Powell
I am the Membership Director at Sunrise Movement, a youth-led movement fighting for a livable future for all. Whether I’m leading new member trainings or leading a team to launch Sunrise’s membership and dues drive, I am constantly asking the question of how we build a mass movement with the power to push our government to act on climate with the scale and urgency it demands.
My interest in climate and the environment began as a young girl, when I would go on fishing trips with my father. There, I developed a love for water and the ocean. After attending a marine biology program in Bimini, Bahamas, and experiencing one of the most spiritual moments of my life while snorkeling with reef sharks, I committed myself to the grand task of fighting to protect the Earth and all its wonders, including the people and communities that make it up.
Though a climate organizer, I have a deep interest in using documentary film and photography as a means to tell the stories of young people, especially Black and Latinx youth organizers, fighting for climate justice. I have a deep hunger to use film and photography as a means to tell stories about organizing and movement building, and get people itching to get off the sidelines and into the work… for the fate of our planet (and democracy) quite literally hinges on that.
Cydia Simone Flowers is a Belizean-American filmmaker, painter, writer, and actress. Beginning her career as a child actress, she brings a lifetime of experience to her storytelling practice, shaped by a degree in film and psychology from Howard University, acting training at Yale University & London's Identity Drama School for Acting, and mentorship at the Sundance Institute.
Featured in American Girl and PBS Kids, Cydia's breadth of knowledge of the film industry began at just 10 years old. Her roles over the course of her life has ranged in theatre and film, although she finds performing in Mojisola Adebayo's The Interrogation of Sandra Bland at Chicago's Goodman Theatre (2019) to be one of her most pivotal experiences, as it bridged her art with activism.
Across her work, she draws from her identity as a first generation artist to explore themes of self-discovery and resilience. In 2018 she founded FlowerStudio Films, an independent studio developing stories that invite audiences to reconnect with their inner magic and potential. As a producer, she emphasizes narratives which center Black, queer, and women characters. Her mission is to inspire audiences to look beyond their current reality and dare to dream of brighter futures. Her most recent film, Looking at Balloons With a Stranger, was named a semi-finalist at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival in 2024.
In 2022, Cydia began her studio painting practice, and her work has been showcased in exhibitions in Chicago and New York.
Louis Halley is a Cinematographer, Director & Editor, and telling stories, strategizing, and brainstorming ideas are his passions. He currently works as a Senior Video Editor at Warner Music Group.
Satya Sullivan is a Cinematographer based in NYC & Boston. Her background is in non-fiction films such as documentaries, commercials, and music videos. She has experience with underwater camera work and considers herself an ocean loving Filipina. She was previously a Newport FILM Cinematography Lab fellow.
Satya is also the co-founder of Colorful Lineup, an organization that uplifts visibility, representation, and community for women of color in surf.