Sustainability on Screen: Ohio University’s Sustainability Film Series returns for 12th year

Ohio University’s Environmental Studies Program is proud to present the 12th annual Sustainability Film Series in collaboration with the Athena Cinema and the Office of Sustainability.

The Sustainability Film Series kicked off its annual celebration earlier this fall with a showing of “Out There: A National Parks Story,” (2023) directed by Brendan Hall. 

For 12 years, the Sustainability Film Series has aimed to feature films that show the environmental challenges of our world. Topics have included climate change, economic hardship, natural resource management and much more, according to the Athena Cinema website. Each film is introduced by an industry expert with ties to Ohio University.  

Dr. Sarah Davis, a professor of environmental studies in the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service at Ohio University, was invited to introduce “Food & Country,” a film about America’s food system.

“Our culture and our health as a society is very linked to our food system,” Davis said. “The film highlights where there's resilience and where there's vulnerabilities in the food system.”

Davis’ introduction highlighted the complex history around agriculture in the United States, how it has shifted over the past 50 years and the importance of the modern food system. She spoke directly to community members and students, emphasizing the importance of learning about the environment. 

“[The series] is an opportunity to have a dialogue with the broader community, not within the walls of the university,” Davis said. “As people working within the university, we are frequently teaching and talking with students, and there were plenty of students at the film, but we there are also many community members that [were] there too.”

The film was shown at the Athena Cinema in Athens.

“The Athena is a historic theater in town, so it's a natural venue for showing a film,” Davis said. The event is also free to attend, meaning anyone interested in learning about sustainability can show up.  

Known as “The Athena” by locals, the theater has a rich history of local involvement and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the Sustainability Film Series. This year, the series coincided with the 50th Anniversary of OHIO’s Environmental Studies Program.

“I talked a little bit about the context of what [celebrating the 50th anniversary] means,” Davis said. “Looking back in 1974, when the Environmental Studies program was first established, there were protests happening related to agriculture that year in the yearbook. So, there were some similar issues [then] that we are facing in agriculture and food systems today.”

Davis urges students who are learning about sustainability, or anyone interested in our environment, to attend.

“It's a historic theater, it's free and you can eat popcorn and just relax and watch the movie and learn something at the same time,” she said.

The next installment, “The Velvet Queen,” premieres on Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Athena Cinema. Kristeena Blaser, director of sustainability for the Columbus Zoo Family of Parks and OHIO graduate, will introduce the film.  

And then on Nov. 20, the Athena Cinema will show "The Engine Inside," directed by Darcy Wittenburg. The film will be introduced by Jasmine Facun.