The low-lying Pacific nation of Kiribati faces a daunting challenge: imminent annihilation from sea-level rise. As Anote Tong, Kiribati’s President, races to find a way to protect his nation’s people and maintain their dignity, many Kiribati are already seeking safe harbor overseas. Set against the backdrop of international climate negotiations and the fight to recognize climate displacement as an urgent human rights issue, Anote’s personal struggle to save his nation is intertwined with the extraordinary fate of Sermary, a young mother of six, who decides to migrate her family to New Zealand. At stake are the survival of Sermary’s family, the Kiribati people, and 4,000 years of Kiribati culture; yet the story also serves as a cautionary tale for low-lying populations everywhere.

Q&A — Matthieu Rytz (Director); Wendy Benchley (Moderator)