Image Source: Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania

Perry World House (PWH) at the University of Pennsylvania and Resilience Frontiers (RF), a foresight initiative under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), have launched the “Global Lens: Visions of Resilience” film festival. The event seeks to inspire hope for a sustainable future through short documentary films that highlight resilience in the face of climate challenges.

A Platform for Short Documentaries on Resilience

The film festival invites filmmakers worldwide to submit short documentaries, no longer than five minutes, that explore stories aligned with RF’s eight transformative pathways. These pathways envision a future that harmonizes human activity with the natural environment. Through the lens of these transformative pathways, filmmakers are encouraged to depict an “Earth-positive” future—one in which global communities respond creatively and effectively to climate change.

The competition opens to submissions on January 27, 2025, and will close on July 1, 2025. There is no limit to the number of films a participant may submit. Winners will be selected through a judging process that begins in July 2025, with notifications sent out by October 1, 2025.

Connecting Climate Action with Global Audiences

Michael Weisberg, Deputy Director of Perry World House, explained the festival’s purpose, stating that young people today face challenges in imagining a positive future due to the ongoing climate crisis. The festival’s aim is to provide a platform for envisioning a resilient future and to inspire action toward that goal.

Youssef Nassef, Director of Adaptation at UNFCCC and Founder of Resilience Frontiers, noted the role of filmmakers in shaping global perceptions of climate change. Through this partnership, the film festival hopes to leverage the power of visual storytelling to inspire change and create a collective vision for a sustainable future.

Recognition and Exposure for Filmmakers

The festival offers more than just recognition. Winners will receive a monetary prize and have the opportunity to have their films screened at two significant global events: COP30 in Brazil in November 2025 and at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The collaboration between Perry World House and Resilience Frontiers marks a unique intersection of academia, policy, and the arts.

The initiative was announced at the 13th annual Penn event at the Sundance Film Festival, where PWH faculty members Peter Decherney and Marie Harf discussed the power of film to bring personal and human dimensions to global environmental challenges. Both emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between policy and academia, and how engaging filmmakers worldwide can provide new perspectives on climate resilience.

For more information on the film submission process, visit the official festival site.

Image Source: Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania