SkyFire Environmental Film Festival ready for its Valley debut

The inaugural SkyFire Environmental Film Festival will debut this month at various spots around the Valley.

The three-day festival, from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, across Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, showcases environmental storytelling alongside community engagement and sustainability initiatives. The event will present 100 films selected from more than 200 submissions from filmmakers around the world, highlighting themes including climate action, food systems, conservation, and community resilience.

Tickets are now available at SkyFireFF.org.

Screenings will take place at venues including the Arizona Science Center and the ASU MIX Center, bringing together filmmakers, students, community leaders, and sustainability advocates for a weekend of films, discussions, and collaborative learning.

Filmmakers from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa are represented in this year’s program, reflecting a diverse and international filmmaking community. The festival will feature 22 curated film blocks that include documentaries, wildlife films, student productions, and animated shorts.

Highlighted films include:

• “Prairie Prophecy” – A reflection on land, ecology, and future stewardship.
• “How We Survive Diomede” – A look at life and resilience in one of the most remote communities in the world.
• “Beer Saves the World!” – A creative exploration of sustainability through brewing culture.
• “Farming While Black” – A powerful documentary examining the legacy and resilience of Black farmers in America while highlighting regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, and the cultural traditions of farming within Black communities.

In partnership with The Redford Center, the environmental nonprofit co-founded by Robert Redford and James Redford, SkyFire will also present films that have not yet been widely screened outside of the Sundance Film Festival, including:

• “Kuleana” – Narrated by Woody Harrelson, this film explores the growing plastic pollution crisis and its impact on Hawai‘i’s ecosystems.
• “Fork In The Road” – Narrated and executive produced by Nick Offerman, this documentary follows farmers, chefs, and innovators working to transition food systems toward regenerative agriculture.

Beyond screenings, the festival will host panels, workshops, and discussions exploring environmental storytelling, documentary filmmaking, sustainable art, photography, advocacy, and policy solutions. These sessions will take place in classrooms and studios at ASU’s MIX Center, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students and community members.

“Arizona faces some of the most visible environmental challenges in the country — from water scarcity and extreme heat to rapid urban growth and land management,” SkyFire co-producer and Phoenix-based nonprofit Urban Farming Education founder Mike McMahon stated in a press release. “By bringing global environmental films here, we can connect local communities, universities, policymakers, and industry leaders in conversations that turn awareness into collaboration and action.”

The festival will model sustainable event practices through public transit partnerships, waste diversion, composting initiatives, and responsible materials use, ensuring sustainability is demonstrated not only on screen but throughout the event experience.

Regional transit partnerships will encourage attendees to travel between venues using Phoenix-area light rail and public transportation, improving accessibility while reducing emissions.

In addition to screenings, the weekend will include filmmaker Q&A sessions, a filmmaker pitch event, community gatherings, and cultural activities throughout the region.

(Photo provided by SkyFire Environmental Film Festival)