Downstream Environmental Film Festival

Downstream Environmental Film Festival showcases local, national, and international short films that explore environmental issues.

Our film festival strives to amplify the voices of diverse filmmakers passionate about the environment. Through this, we aim to raise awareness about water quality concerns using the arts and connect people to environmental issues that may seem distant. Additionally, we hope to foster community building and bring neighbors together through our efforts.

In February and March 2025, we will be organizing our 8th Downstream Film Festival with the theme "Resilience."

During the 2023 film festival, we brought together 116 attendees and 13 passionate filmmakers to raise awareness about environmental concerns beyond their hometowns. With screenings in four locations, we built connections with communities within our watershed and beyond while inspiring others to take action toward a healthier environment.

What’s Next?

In the future, we’d like to expand the reach of our film festival to different locations across the watershed while continuing to showcase the work of talented filmmakers with diverse backgrounds.

We are currently seeking to commission up to three non-English-language short films about the Cannon River Watershed that explore one or more of the following themes: water quality and quantity, humans’ relationships to place, or other water, land, or climate health themes. Scroll down to learn more.

We are seeking submissions right now!

Dates and Deadlines

September 10, 2024
Opening Date

October 31, 2024
Regular Deadline

December 13, 2024
Notification Date

February - March, 2025
Event Date

Request for Proposals: Short film project sharing diverse perspectives on the Cannon River Watershed

We are seeking proposals for a short film project funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as part of We Are Water MN.

We hope to commission up to three non-English-language short films about the Cannon River Watershed that explore one or more of the following themes: water quality and quantity, humans’ relationships to place, or other water, land, or climate health themes. Filmmakers who live in or near the Cannon River Watershed are welcome to apply.

Filmmakers may request up to $15,000 to produce their films, with project expenses detailed in a submitted budget. Completed films should be between 5 and 20 minutes in length. Selected filmmakers will have their films showcased at the 8th Downstream Environmental Film Festival in February and March 2025. CRP will host the festival in four different communities across the watershed.

We are particularly interested in films that utilize languages relevant to local communities, such as Spanish, Hmong, Dakota, and Somali. Finished films must be subtitled in English.

Timeline

Proposals open — Friday, September 13, 2024
Proposals due — 5:00pm CST on Thursday, October 31, 2024
Notification date — Friday, November 15, 2024
Films due — Friday, January 24, 2025
Festival — February and March, 2025

To Apply

Please email a cover letter, resume, project budget, and work sample to downstream@cleanriverpartners.org.

Note: The Cannon River Watershed encompasses areas of Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Steele, Rice and Waseca counties.

Work for Hire: Selected films will be work made for hire, and the intellectual property will be jointly owned by the State of Minnesota and Clean River Partners.