6th GREEN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO:

Drowned Land

Winding its way through southeastern Oklahoma, the Kiamichi River is a bastion of ecological diversity. Already twice-dammed, the state of Oklahoma and a Texas corporation continue to try to commodify the remaining water and build a hydropower plant on the small river. For a group of locals, this isn’t just a fight for a river; it is a lifelong reckoning with the cycle of land theft and displacement that began with the Trail of Tears. Now, in a region where the community relies on the Kiamichi’s ecosystem for subsistence, taking the water out of the watershed could mean yet another relocation.

The narrative arc follows the river as its main character—witnessing the ebb and flow of its life-giving ability through the seasons, and the detrimental impact caused by damming and development projects. The director, Colleen, explores the effects of her grandfather's work designing dams for the Army Corps of Engineers, her tribe’s ongoing struggles with resource exploitation, and how it shapes her reconciliation of the past with the present.

Interwoven are the stories of the river’s advocates—residents, Choctaw culture-keepers, and scientists—who have come together to save the river and initiate a paradigm shift grounded in ideals of rematriation and the rights of Nature, reinforcing a commitment to end the cycle of disconnection from our land.

The Congress

Indonesian activist, Rukka Sombolinggi believes the key to confronting the climate crisis is to unite and mobilize the Indigenous communities who are often impacted the most. Now, as the first female general secretary of the world’s largest Indigenous Peoples organization, she has the power to do just that. But the challenge is monumental.

One October thousands traveled from across the island nation of Indonesia to attend one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous Peoples in the world. Whether arriving by open-air trucks, boat or even by foot the AMAN congress, led by Rukka, drew thousands of people across the Indonesian archipelago and its 17,000 islands.

Using a process of “deliberative democracy” the Congress prioritizes finding solutions through consensus so that no groups are left out. This unique process resulted in 32 resolutions, uniting the voices of over 20,000 indigenous communities to address land rights, economic dealings, environmental issues, and the criminalization of Indigenous Peoples across the archipelago.

This is a story about the democratic process, defiance and dignity in the face of climate catastrophe.

The Green Film Festival is presented by SF IndieFest, a 501c3 non-profit, that has presented over 60 film festivals over the past 27 years, acquiring a strong following with independent film fans and garnering press coverage and recognition for thousands of films and filmmakers. SF IndieFest is a founding member of the Film Festival Alliance.