Founded by the nonprofit Rainforest Partnership in 2010, Films for the Forest invites filmmakers from around the world to share the voices and stories of forests worldwide, highlighting their rich biodiversity and local communities, their immense beauty and importance to the entire planet, the threats they face, and the opportunities for renewal.
Selected films have been shown as part of the SXSW Community Screening in Austin every March since 2012 and most recently were shown at a special Films for the Forest screening in Tokyo, Japan.
The 2022 Films for the Forest judges included five-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater; Welsh actor, musician, and activist Iwan Rheon; Colombian filmmaker Juan Sebastián Mesa, director of “Los Nadie” and “La Roya”; Ecuadorian filmmaker Frida Muenala, director and writer from the Kichwa community; and British activist and youth speaker Lucy Houliston.
The theme for the 2023 competition is: "Living Forests. Thriving Future" and challenges filmmakers to express the urgent need for collective action and commitment to stop climate change, and to showcase the value of healthy, standing forests for the future of humanity and every life form on the planet.
“Protecting standing tropical rainforests is a climate solution that plays a vital role in our collective future, no matter where on the planet we live,” said Niyanta Spelman, CEO of Rainforest Partnership. Every action matters.
Documentary Shorts Category, Winner and Runner Up — Award Certificate & Official Laurels
Narrative Shorts Category, Winner and Runner Up — Award Certificate & Official Laurels
Animated Shorts Category, Winner and Runner Up — Award Certificate & Official Laurels
Youth Films Category, Winner and Runner Up — Award Certificate & Official Laurels
Indigenous (IPLC) Films Category, Winner and Runner Up — Award Certificate & Official Laurels