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Upstream, Downriver

“Upstream, Downriver” is a new documentary film directed by Maggie Burnette Stogner that highlights 50 years of the Clean Water Act and the critical issues we still face today. It follows four inspiring stories across the country of people fighting for clean water equity and justice. This 30-minute documentary is a powerful tool for bringing people together to take action on clean water issues in their communities. Rather than a “doom and gloom” approach, “Upstream, Downriver” reframes the promise of the Clean Water Act as part of its 50-year anniversary celebration, increasing the visibility of grassroots activists and conveying to the public, the media and policymakers a 21st century interpretation.

  • Maggie Burnette Stogner
    Director
    Unbreathable (Producer/Director/Writer)
  • Maggie Burnette Stogner
    Producer
  • Danielle Miller Wagner
    Producer
  • Amelia Tyson
    Producer
  • Jeffrey Madison
    Producer
  • Elizabeth Joy Herzfeldt-Kamprath
    Producer
  • Fred Tutman
    Content Partners
  • Jeffrey Madison
    Content Partners
  • Robert Anthony Boyd III
    Content Partners
  • Marissa Woods
    Associate Producer
  • Xochi Chavez-Ortiz
    Associate Producer
  • Kevin Burnette
    Researcher
  • Hadley Anthony
    Researcher
  • Elizabeth Herzfeldt-Kamprath
    Outreach Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Environment & Sustainability, US History, Climate Justice
  • Runtime:
    31 minutes 49 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 28, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    200,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Chesapeake Film Festival
    Easton, MD
    United States
    September 30, 2022
Director Biography - Maggie Burnette Stogner

Maggie Burnette Stogner, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking has been directing, producing, and writing award-winning documentaries for over 30 years and is founder of the independent production company, Blue Bear Films https://MaggieBlueBear.media. Her recent work includes the award-winning independent documentary films Upstream, Downriver about water justice on the eve of the 50-year anniversary of the Clean Water Act; Unbreathable about the fight for healthy air; and, In the Executioner’s Shadow about justice, injustice and the death penalty.

Her impact media research reveals many new trends and innovations in motivating audiences to engage in meaningful social change. For more information about this informative and actionable research: www.CEFimpactmedia.org and https://medium.com/storytelling-for-impact.

She has produced and directed many broadcast documentaries including Gold Mountain that reveals the authentic stories of pioneering Chinese in the old West and Afghanistans Hidden Treasures. She designs and produces media elements for world-touring museum exhibitions, including: The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great; Roads of Arabia; Tutankhamun and the Golden Pharaohs; Real Pirates; Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures; and, Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology with Harrison Ford. Previously, Maggie was the Senior Producer of National Geographic’s weekly award-winning documentary showcase EXPLORER, producing and overseeing more than 200 films over a decade.

She serves as Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking and is a professor of film and media arts at American University’s School of Communication in Washington D.C. Her leadership is dedicated to educating and launching the next generation of filmmaker's keen to make a positive difference in the world.

Maggie earned her graduate degree from Stanford University in Communication/Documentary Film. She is a voting member of the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences, a judge for Nonfiction Emmy Awards, Special Jury awards for Jackson Wild, and others. She is an executive member of Women and Film in Video in Washington D.C.

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