Upcoming Events

Co-presented by DCEFF and the AFI Silver as part of their Latin American Film Festival

The first female elected chief of her people in the Amazon’s Middle Xingu region, Indigenous activist Juma Xipaia is the brilliant subject of Richard Ladkani’s urgent documentary. An outspoken advocate, Juma has survived six assassination attempts as she dares to face the ruthless mining companies whose every action threatens to destroy her community. Steadfastly by her side is her husband, Hugo, a former Special Forces ranger and helicopter pilot who is now tasked with leading dangerous missions for Brazil’s environmental protection agency. As their family and responsibilities begin to grow, Juma and Hugo must protect both their future and the future of the Amazon. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Ladkani’s mesmerizing eco-thriller juxtaposes awe-inspiring nature photography with heartless violence in a fight for environmental justice that never ends.

Co-presented by DCEFF and the AFI Silver as part of their Latin American Film Festival

This is a story about life — stubborn, fragile and fleeting — that began 66 million years ago, when a giant meteorite crashed in what is now the Yucatán Peninsula, wiping out the dinosaurs from existence. Millennia later, tens of thousands of Caribbean flamingos flock to the region for a grand display of courtship, turning the muddy banks into a vast maternity ward for the next generation. This incredible undertaking by phoenicopterus ruber to breed — building mud nests in a prominent flood zone, finding a mate among a horde of competitors, evading scores of hungry predators — was captured over a two-year period in partnership with the esteemed Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Humorous, offbeat narration by Mexican singer Julieta Venegas, an engrossing score by Bryce Dessner and breathtaking natural photography combine to create a singular wildlife documentary that will make you appreciate the hardy flamingo and the preciousness of life itself.

The Uproot Project, in partnership with DCEFF, presents an engaging evening exploring climate politics and trust in the media

The event will begin with a screening of 2025 DCEFF Opening Night Select The White House Effect. The film will be followed by a conversation with journalists Justin Worland from Time and Jenny Hijazi from Bloomberg, moderated by Chelsea Henderson, author of Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics.

March 19-28, 2026, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) returns to venues throughout the DC Metro Area. Stay tuned for exciting announcements early in 2026.