40 Acres

R.T. Thorne/2024/108 Min/People & Cultures, Sustainable Food & Ag, Environmental Justice

Accessibility: OEFF commits to an ongoing effort to make our events as open and as accessible as possible. Our 2026 accessibility page is here!

Rating, Audience & Advisory Info

  • Not recommended for youth under 18

  • Heavy themes, disturbing images, extremely graphic violence, and strong language

Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic world with food scarcity, a Black family of Canadian farmers descended from American Civil War migrants defend their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources.

Awards & Accolades

  • 2024 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards: Best First Feature Winner

  • 2026 NAACP Image Award Nominee Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Danielle Deadwyler

  • “This is a post-apocalyptic film about a plague that forced humans to fight over farm land due to starvation and famine. A solid plot with great acting and lots of action.” - Clock Tower TV

Program Information: Arrive early when doors open, and stay after the film for enlightening facilitated dialogue with relevant experts and advocates. Additional program details appear below, inline with each screening description.

Patagonia Fulton Market Tickets

1115 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Saturday 4/25/2026
Presented by Black Girl Environmentalist Chicago
Doors Open at 6:30 PM (CST). Film Starts Promptly at 7:00 (CST).
Free with a suggested $10 donation.

Black Girl Environmentalist partners with One Earth Film Festival to present 40 Acres, a post-apocalyptic thriller centering a Black woman matriarch navigating environmental collapse, on April 25th at Patagonia Fulton Market. 

The evening features a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Mila Kellen Marshall (PhD in ecology, Clean Water Advocate for Illinois Sierra Club), who will also contribute as a panelist on water justice and natural resource stewardship. Additional panelists include Mezcla Media Collective analyzing Black women's representation in climate narratives, and SisterAfya addressing mental health dimensions of environmental crisis.

The program explores themes of ancestral trauma, resource access, land sovereignty, and community healing through interactive activities and vendor engagement. People for Community Recovery and sustainable accessory vendors will table. The event runs 7-10 PM, with pre-screening mingling, film viewing, and a closing panel discussion examining how we build equitable climate futures rooted in collective action and intergenerational wisdom.

Currently, we plan to serve popcorn, water, and Modelo/Pacifico is generously donating some beer and wine.

Urban Essentials Cafe Tickets

5300 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60651
Saturday 4/25/2026
Presented by Kindred Civic Arts Forum
Doors open at 6:00 PM (CST). Film starts promptly at 6:30 (CST).
Free with a suggested $10 donation.

Join us at Spill the Beans in Austin for a special community screening of 40 Acres as part of the One Earth Film Festival. Set in a near-future world shaped by food scarcity and environmental collapse, the film follows a Black family protecting their generational farmland while navigating survival, legacy, and resilience. The story invites audiences to reflect on land stewardship, sustainability, and the importance of community in times of uncertainty.

The evening will begin with a brief grounding exercise led by trained Peer Supporters affiliated with Sista Afya, creating space for reflection and connection before the screening begins. Following the film, attendees are invited to stay for a community conversation featuring local partners, including representatives from 40 Acres Fresh Market, Austin Garden Collective, and an artist/filmmaker. Together, the panel will explore the film’s themes of land, food systems, and community resilience while highlighting local resources and initiatives supporting sustainable food access and environmental awareness in Austin and across Chicago. Refreshments provided will be popcorn and water.