by Sherif Awad
An acclaimed feature-length documentary that follows stories
of communities challenging current power structures, leading to possibilities
of a future with both social and climate justice. The filmmakers (Amy Miller
and Byron A. Martin) take us around the world from war torn, oil-rich Colombia
where people have been building a peace process from the bottom up to Germany,
where activists are pushing the country to fully leave behind the extraction of
fossil fuels and complete its transition to renewable energy. And finally, the
story of Empower GAZA, in Gaza City (Palestine) where the problem of daily
energy blackouts, borne out of the 11-year siege is being tackled by health
practitioners through solar power to provide essential care in hospitals.
of communities challenging current power structures, leading to possibilities
of a future with both social and climate justice. The filmmakers (Amy Miller
and Byron A. Martin) take us around the world from war torn, oil-rich Colombia
where people have been building a peace process from the bottom up to Germany,
where activists are pushing the country to fully leave behind the extraction of
fossil fuels and complete its transition to renewable energy. And finally, the
story of Empower GAZA, in Gaza City (Palestine) where the problem of daily
energy blackouts, borne out of the 11-year siege is being tackled by health
practitioners through solar power to provide essential care in hospitals.
Since the industrial revolution, mankind has managed to
provide electricity, gas, oil and heat for billions of people around the world.
Unfortunately, the side effects of those privileges have caused pollution,
destroyed drinking water and marine life and created global warming. The time
has come for clean energy and the transition to other alternatives of power
without negative impacts to the environment. When one factors in big profit
from companies, investors and government benefitting from oil and gas, coal and
uranium, one begins to see the scale of the problem of trying to create change.
Evolution teaches us change is inevitable and technology continues to advance.
provide electricity, gas, oil and heat for billions of people around the world.
Unfortunately, the side effects of those privileges have caused pollution,
destroyed drinking water and marine life and created global warming. The time
has come for clean energy and the transition to other alternatives of power
without negative impacts to the environment. When one factors in big profit
from companies, investors and government benefitting from oil and gas, coal and
uranium, one begins to see the scale of the problem of trying to create change.
Evolution teaches us change is inevitable and technology continues to advance.
Somebody that’s actually taking steps to inform the world
about the importance of clean energy and the impact of global warming is
documentary filmmaker, Amy Miller. She
and Byron A. Martin produced the film TOMORROW’S POWER to shine a light on
people and organizations leading the charge in hopes of bringing change. Amy
traveled to three countries deeply affected to speak with organizers working
toward a solution while allowing the camera to act as a vehicle in carrying
their testimony forward.
about the importance of clean energy and the impact of global warming is
documentary filmmaker, Amy Miller. She
and Byron A. Martin produced the film TOMORROW’S POWER to shine a light on
people and organizations leading the charge in hopes of bringing change. Amy
traveled to three countries deeply affected to speak with organizers working
toward a solution while allowing the camera to act as a vehicle in carrying
their testimony forward.
Amy Miller has been making documentaries for the past ten
years. She is also a social justice organizer based in Montreal. She directed
and wrote the documentary NO LAND NO FOOD NO LIFE a hard-hitting film on the
economy, agricultural land grabs and the changes to farmers’ lives around the
world. She directed, wrote and produced the documentary THE CARBON RUSH, a
global exposé on how carbon offset projects impact local peoples. The film has
expanded to include an online interactive game as well as a book of essays and
photos published by RED DEER PRESS (2013). She directed, wrote and produced the
featurette documentary MYTHS FOR PROFIT: CANADA’S ROLE IN INDUSTRIES OF WAR AND
PEACE that was screened thoroughly across Canada and at festivals including the
Milano Film Festival, RIDM and The Bay Street Film Festival, where it won the People’s
Choice award. Her first documentary, OUTSIDE OF EUROPE, focused on the
exclusionary nature of immigration and border policies and continues to be
screened around the world. She remains dedicated to developing critical
documentaries for transformative social change and helping grassroots campaigns
for justice
years. She is also a social justice organizer based in Montreal. She directed
and wrote the documentary NO LAND NO FOOD NO LIFE a hard-hitting film on the
economy, agricultural land grabs and the changes to farmers’ lives around the
world. She directed, wrote and produced the documentary THE CARBON RUSH, a
global exposé on how carbon offset projects impact local peoples. The film has
expanded to include an online interactive game as well as a book of essays and
photos published by RED DEER PRESS (2013). She directed, wrote and produced the
featurette documentary MYTHS FOR PROFIT: CANADA’S ROLE IN INDUSTRIES OF WAR AND
PEACE that was screened thoroughly across Canada and at festivals including the
Milano Film Festival, RIDM and The Bay Street Film Festival, where it won the People’s
Choice award. Her first documentary, OUTSIDE OF EUROPE, focused on the
exclusionary nature of immigration and border policies and continues to be
screened around the world. She remains dedicated to developing critical
documentaries for transformative social change and helping grassroots campaigns
for justice
Byron A. Martin is also an award-winning producer that
develops independent film, television and documentary projects. To date he has produced almost 100 hours of
television, filming projects in fifteen countries. He has produced projects for Disney, Sony,
Universal, Turner and Bell Media and managed productions for some of
Hollywood’s leading producers (Jerry Bruckheimer, Sam Raimi, Lauren Shuler
Donner, Raffaella De Laurentis, Mark Canton, Dick Wolf, Laurence Mark, John
Singleton, Ralph Winter and Don Carmody).
develops independent film, television and documentary projects. To date he has produced almost 100 hours of
television, filming projects in fifteen countries. He has produced projects for Disney, Sony,
Universal, Turner and Bell Media and managed productions for some of
Hollywood’s leading producers (Jerry Bruckheimer, Sam Raimi, Lauren Shuler
Donner, Raffaella De Laurentis, Mark Canton, Dick Wolf, Laurence Mark, John
Singleton, Ralph Winter and Don Carmody).
Back to Amy Miller who considered other countries, such as
the Congo and Ecuador but logistically they didn’t work out. The intention of
the documentary was not to present a 101 on climate change but rather a 201 to
people that know climate change already exists and showing people on the ground
doing something about it, the hurdles they face, what are their limitations and
how they’ve overcome them. Miller have been involved around the world working
with people regarding climate change, establishing strong relations before
travelling to the locations. She was aware that we she is there for support and
to document for the purpose of educating the public to help bring change. She
was in each country for approximately three weeks.”
the Congo and Ecuador but logistically they didn’t work out. The intention of
the documentary was not to present a 101 on climate change but rather a 201 to
people that know climate change already exists and showing people on the ground
doing something about it, the hurdles they face, what are their limitations and
how they’ve overcome them. Miller have been involved around the world working
with people regarding climate change, establishing strong relations before
travelling to the locations. She was aware that we she is there for support and
to document for the purpose of educating the public to help bring change. She
was in each country for approximately three weeks.”
One should note that Ann Miller has worked with Byron A.
Martin on a previous documentary, THE CARBON RUSH and so they have established
a great working relationship, which prompted her to collaborate again on this
film. Although she never spoke with Byron because he is in Germany and the time
zones made it difficult to establish a time that worked for both of us, he was
more than willing to speak with her, had the time zones not been an issue. Amy
Miller likes to use small crew, so there was herself, a DOP, a sound recorder
and a local coordinator on the ground.
Martin on a previous documentary, THE CARBON RUSH and so they have established
a great working relationship, which prompted her to collaborate again on this
film. Although she never spoke with Byron because he is in Germany and the time
zones made it difficult to establish a time that worked for both of us, he was
more than willing to speak with her, had the time zones not been an issue. Amy
Miller likes to use small crew, so there was herself, a DOP, a sound recorder
and a local coordinator on the ground.
In each location we visit in the film, there are amazing
spokespeople working with the organizations and engaging with the camera crew.
In the Arauca Region, its Sonia Milena Lopez – Human rights observer and
Bernardo Arguello – community organizer, in Rheiland Germany it’s Dorothee
HäuBermann – Climate Justice organizer and in Gaza City it’s Dr. Mohamed Ziara.
They had remarkable contributions in enacting positive change and making a
difference through peaceful means.
spokespeople working with the organizations and engaging with the camera crew.
In the Arauca Region, its Sonia Milena Lopez – Human rights observer and
Bernardo Arguello – community organizer, in Rheiland Germany it’s Dorothee
HäuBermann – Climate Justice organizer and in Gaza City it’s Dr. Mohamed Ziara.
They had remarkable contributions in enacting positive change and making a
difference through peaceful means.
The project started to be developed back in 2014 – 2015 in
terms of locating financing, getting people on board and figuring out the
storylines. Miller started the filming in 2016 and she had the world premiere
in March of 2017 in Cambodia.
terms of locating financing, getting people on board and figuring out the
storylines. Miller started the filming in 2016 and she had the world premiere
in March of 2017 in Cambodia.
The film has been in over 30 festivals around the world and
screens in Toronto at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on Feb. 20, 2018. In addition to Byron A. Martin co-producing
it, Boban Chaldovich was the editor, Sylvestre Guidi was the DOP, Kyle
Stanfield was the sound recorder and of course, Amy Miller was writer/director.
screens in Toronto at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on Feb. 20, 2018. In addition to Byron A. Martin co-producing
it, Boban Chaldovich was the editor, Sylvestre Guidi was the DOP, Kyle
Stanfield was the sound recorder and of course, Amy Miller was writer/director.
This documentary brings the viewer to the front lines of
people standing up to big corporation in an effort to bring more attention to
climate change and alternative power. It is highly effective and brings hope
for cleaner energy for a sustainable world in which we can all appreciate.
Filmmakers like Amy are so invaluable in educating the public to be proactive
in supporting clean energy and paving the way to a better future for all of us.
We should all try to participate in joining the movement. The technology is
there and will only become more efficient as it continues to be developed. If
we all invest we all win.
people standing up to big corporation in an effort to bring more attention to
climate change and alternative power. It is highly effective and brings hope
for cleaner energy for a sustainable world in which we can all appreciate.
Filmmakers like Amy are so invaluable in educating the public to be proactive
in supporting clean energy and paving the way to a better future for all of us.
We should all try to participate in joining the movement. The technology is
there and will only become more efficient as it continues to be developed. If
we all invest we all win.
TOMORROW’S POWER was recently awarded the Best Documentary
Feature Film Award at the Sydney World Film Festival. The documentary has
succeeded to showcase three communities around the world and their responses to
economic and environmental emergencies. In the war-torn, oil-rich Arauca
province in Colombia, communities have been building a peace process from the
bottom up. In Germany, activists are pushing the country to fully divest from
fossil-fuel extraction and complete its transition to renewable energy. In
Gaza, health practitioners harness solar power to battle daily life-threatening
energy blackouts in hospitals.
Feature Film Award at the Sydney World Film Festival. The documentary has
succeeded to showcase three communities around the world and their responses to
economic and environmental emergencies. In the war-torn, oil-rich Arauca
province in Colombia, communities have been building a peace process from the
bottom up. In Germany, activists are pushing the country to fully divest from
fossil-fuel extraction and complete its transition to renewable energy. In
Gaza, health practitioners harness solar power to battle daily life-threatening
energy blackouts in hospitals.
The documentary will be the much-needed film to explain our
worldwide addiction to fossil fuels and its relationship to climate change, but
it will also empower and motivate: It will inspire its viewers to work hard and
persist even in the face of massive obstacles, setbacks and failures. We hope
to screen it soon across the Middle East.
worldwide addiction to fossil fuels and its relationship to climate change, but
it will also empower and motivate: It will inspire its viewers to work hard and
persist even in the face of massive obstacles, setbacks and failures. We hope
to screen it soon across the Middle East.
