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One Earth Film Festival returns for its 16th season on
Earth Day 2027

One Earth Film Festival is the Midwest’s premier environmental film festival, reaching local and global audiences through in-person and virtual screenings, discussions, and other activations. The 16th season will run from April 22 to 27, 2027.

Since its founding in 2012, the One Earth Film Festival has reached more than 51,000 participants. It showcases top-issue, thought-provoking environmental films that amplify the voices of those most impacted by climate change and environmental injustice. Screenings and post-film discussions give moviegoers space to talk about the film and identify their personal power to take concrete, inclusive action.

Powered by volunteers, the Festival features Chicagoland’s diversity at every screening. Films are nominated from around the world and screened by a multigenerational team of reviewers from various professional backgrounds. The Festival team works with host partners to design a great screening experience for their members, neighbors, and the greater community.  

Interested in caring for the Earth with us? Click here for volunteering information

Mission and Vision

The Festival commits to especially centering stories, voices, and solutions for communities of color and other marginalized groups, those most disproportionately impacted by environmental issues and climate injustices.

Mission: 

Through sustainability-themed films and facilitated discussion, educate, raise awareness, and inspire the adoption of solution-oriented sustainable actions.

Vision: 

Stimulate, energize, and activate communities through deep involvement in the One Earth Film Festival, maximizing citizen reach and expanding the movement.

Other One Earth Collective Programs

One Earth Local is devoted to helping the creation of just, sustainable futures in diverse communities across Chicago and the Midwest. To learn more about the array of sustainable communities, food justice, and environmental justice programs taking place with One Earth Local, see here.

One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest + Youth Voices

In 2013, Green Community Connections introduced the annual One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest. The contest is open to students from grades 3 through college and post-grad level and was created with the goal of engaging youth across Chicago’s rich communities – and worldwide – in the discussion about sustainability and climate justice issues and getting them thinking about equitable solutions. Each winning filmmaker will receive a cash prize and matching grant of equal value to be given to a non-profit organization chosen by the filmmaker. Winning films are featured at One Earth Film Festival. For more information, contact [email protected]. For more info about Youth Voices programming, see here.