CFF Wrapped: Reflections on 2024
Happy holidays from CFF and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has made the Climate Film Festival a reality! Read on for a recap of our first full year and what's coming next in 2025.
The Climate Film Festival began with an idea: stories build movements. Our inaugural festival this past September exceeded our wildest expectations—from the packed sneak peak of The Wild Robot bringing together families and filmmakers, to electrifying industry panels on climate conversations in front of and behind the camera, 2,000 people came together to watch 60 groundbreaking films, engage in urgent conversations, and imagine new possibilities for our planet's future.
As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible community that makes our work possible. From the filmmakers who trust us with their stories to the audiences who fill our theaters, from our dedicated volunteers to our generous supporters—you've all played a vital role in building this movement for climate storytelling. Your engagement and support have transformed what began as a simple idea into a vibrant platform for dialogue and action.
✨ 2024 Festival Highlights
60 films (including 28 world, regional, and city premieres) showcasing stories from frontline communities, global climate solutions, and mould-breaking visions
58 community, in-kind, and sponsoring partners across climate, media, film, and more
93% advance sellout rate, demonstrating the real demand for climate storytelling
40+ events sparking dialogue between filmmakers, climate experts, and audiences
Global representation from 20+ countries, amplifying voices from Indigenous communities to urban innovators
But numbers only tell part of the story. We witnessed countless moments of connection: filmmakers meeting climate scientists over coffee, audience members leaving screenings feeling inspired to act, and young storytellers finding their voice.
💚 Walking the Walk
Through our partnership with Earth Angel by TheGreenShot, we took action to embody our values in the festival itself:
100% electric vehicle use for transportation
100% vegan and vegetarian catering
94% waste diversion rate
🎬 Year-Round Programs
In addition to the festival, we ran programs throughout the year in collaboration with local partners, bringing climate film together with a wide set of communities throughout the city:
12 dynamic events reaching 700+ people across New York City
Community screenings with organizations including WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Rethink Food, Waterfront Alliance, Asia Society, NYU, Ceres Food Film Festival, and more, connecting films with local climate action.
🔮 Looking Ahead to 2025
Save the date: CFF is coming back for Climate Week 2025! Stay tuned for the formal announcement and the open call. We have big plans for next year:
Enhanced programming to reach an even wider audience
More support for filmmakers bringing climate into their work
Expanded impact through year-round programming
🎁 Your Support Makes This Possible
As a growing nonprofit, we're continually moved by the generosity of our community. Your support is what makes it possible to bring these vital stories to audiences and nurture the next generation of climate storytellers.
In this season of giving, we invite you to be part of our mission:
Nurture emerging voices in climate filmmaking
Bring transformative stories to new communities
Create spaces for dialogue and connection through film
Your contribution—big or small—can help bring urgent climate stories to audiences and support the filmmakers who tell them.
🥳 Our First Full Year
As we reflect on the first full year of CFF, we could not be more grateful for your support—whether you attended an event, made a film, volunteered, or donated, you made this happen! This festival is a labor of love, and a demonstration of the incredible power of film to bring people together.
Thank you, and we’ll see you next year!
Alec, English, and the Climate Film Festival