Surrounded by Telluride’s iconic peaks and rushing streams, The Redford Center convened our grantee cohort of independent filmmakers for a powerful 2-day summit. Together, they explored how film can serve as a lever for environmental progress — documenting change, while driving it. As one filmmaker put it, “This is the work of my life.”

In an era of narrative upheaval, where stories shape reality, our filmmakers shared strategies for reclaiming the narrative through long-arc storytelling that connects climate to every aspect of life. These conversations revealed a shared truth: no story is too small, and no solution stands alone.

Our powerhouse keynote speaker, Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, president and CEO of Environmental Grantmakers Association, reminded filmmakers that art and storytelling are absolutely essential to progress because film still has the power to cut through, to connect, to show people what’s real.

During a festival panel titled “What’s Really Working in Sustainability?” our Executive Director Jill Tidman challenged us to rethink sustainability by boldly building a regenerative future. She emphasized the power of storytelling to connect climate action with everyday human experiences, the importance of including Indigenous wisdom, and the need to shift from scarcity to possibility. Her call was clear: to create real change, we must invite everyone in, fund creative voices, and imagine a world worth fighting for.

The Summit took place alongside Telluride’s Mountainfilm Festival (May 22–26), where hundreds of filmmakers gathered to share stories shaping our collective future.

At the festival, we were tremendously proud to have three The Redford Center supported films — Between Moon Tides, Enraizados (Our Roots Remain), and Lost Wolves of Yellowstone — qualify to be screened.