CFF ’25 Jury Announcement 🗳️

Also: Get Tickets Now and Save 10% with Early Bird Pricing

Alec Turnbull

J. English Cook

, and

Marisa Guerrero

Aug 14, 2025

Mark your calendars for CFF ’25, happening September 19-22, 2025! Our film program dropped last week and early bird ticket sales are going fast. Get yours today – early bird pricing ends on August 20.

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In this Newsletter:

🗳️ Announcing the CFF ’25 Jury
🎬 Film Program and Early Bird Tickets
💡 Filmmaker Opportunities

🗳️ Announcing the CFF ’25 Jury

We are thrilled to announce our incredible panel of CFF ’25 jurors! Representing industry leaders in climate and film, our jury votes on five prizes that honor outstanding work across Feature Documentary, Short Documentary, Short Narrative, and Student Choice, plus a special Horizon Award for filmmakers under 30.

We are honored to have such a passionate and expert panel, and we can’t wait to announce prize winners at our Award Ceremony on Sunday, September 21. To learn more about this year’s jury, click here to read each member’s bio.

Abre’ Conner, Director, Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP
Alaina Demopoulos, Daily Features Writer, the Guardian
Aldo Juraidini Zorrilla, Design Director, Studio Rodrigo
Ali Ciatti, Climate & Sustainability Creator Partnerships, YouTube
Caleb Smith, Resiliency Coordinator, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Chandra Simon Ritvo, Global Sustainability Creative, Netflix
Cheryl Slean, US Lead, Climate Spring
Colby Minifie, Actor, Fear the Walking Dead, The Boys
Harry Winer, Arts Professor, NYU & Executive Board, Green Film School Alliance
Jamil Ellis, CEO & Founder, Unified Ground
JaRel Clay, Associate Senior Director of Digital and Production, Hip Hop Caucus
Jeannette Williams, COO, Urban Future Lab
Jessica Harrop, Executive Director, Sandbox Films
Dr. Len Necefer, Ph.D., CEO & Founder of NativesOutdoors
Nakorn Chaisri, Artistic Director, Changing Climate, Changing Lives (CCCL) Film Festival
Nancy Rosenthal, Founder & Executive Director of the New York WILD Film Festival
Rebecca Strawn, Senior Associate, Entertainment Partnerships, NRDC
Ricardo Benavidez, Director, The Carmack Collective

🍿 Film Program & Early Bird Tickets (10% Off)

We have 50 films – including 32 premieres – coming to CFF ’25. Check out the film program below and get your early bird tickets before they’re gone.

Explore the Program

🪩 Opening Night

Friday, Sept. 19 at DGA New York Theater, 110 W. 57th St.

We’re kicking off the festival with a screening of the 25th anniversary new 4K remaster of Erin Brockovich, presented in partnership with Universal Pictures, followed by a post-screening conversation.

🎬 Festival Screenings

Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21 at Regal Essex Crossing, 129 Delancey St.

Settle in for two days of finalist screenings spanning 18 programs. The weekend will wrap with the NYC premiere of Trade Secret—director Abraham Joffe’s sweeping global exposé of the legal trade in polar bear pelts, and the powerful institutions complicit in it. Tickets here.

✨ Public & Industry Programs

Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21 at Essex Market, 88 Essex St.

Join us for over nine live sessions—panels, workshops, and partner activations—covering climate storytelling, sustainable production, distribution pathways, and more. Full schedule coming soon.

🏆 Awards Night

Sunday, Sept. 21, venue TBA

This invite-only celebration, sponsored by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), will recognize the year’s most powerful climate storytelling. Five prizes will be announced—chosen by our distinguished jury—honoring outstanding work across Feature Documentary, Short Documentary, Short Narrative, Student Choice, and a special Horizon Award for filmmakers under 30.

🌅 Narrative Change Summit

Monday, Sept. 22 at SVA Theatre, 333 W. 23rd St.

During this full-day summit, filmmakers, foundations, creative agencies, and nonprofit leaders will come together to explore strategies for reshaping climate narratives. Full agenda TBA. Save the date here.

Thanks to our 2025 Festival Sponsors

The Carmack Collective, NRDC (Natural Resource Defense Council), Universal Pictures, Nespresso, Watershed, Earth Rising Foundation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Puffin Foundation, and ImpactECI, with more to be announced.

The Guardian is the presenting media sponsor. The festival logo and design come from Studio Rodrigo. Legal services from Romanette Legal. The marquee theatre partner is Regal.