Film and Science Panel: Making Science/Climate-Focused Films in Challenging Times

This panel brings together documentary filmmakers working at the intersection of science, climate, and storytelling for a frank conversation about the craft, the challenges, and the stakes of making science-focused films right now. From navigating skeptical audiences and shifting funding landscapes to finding the human stories that make complex data emotionally resonant, the panelists will explore what it takes to do this work with rigor, creativity, and urgency.

The conversation will be hosted by Miles O'Brien, one of America's most trusted science journalists. A veteran of nearly four decades in broadcasting, O'Brien serves as science correspondent for PBS NewsHour and is a producer, director, and correspondent for NOVA and FRONTLINE. He has spent years documenting climate change and its consequences — and more recently, turning his lens toward solutions — making him an ideal guide for this discussion.

Whether you're a filmmaker grappling with how to frame a story about melting ice sheets, a scientist wondering how to collaborate with documentary makers, or simply someone who cares about how these stories reach the public, this panel offers rare, behind-the-scenes insight into one of the most important — and difficult — genres in independent film today.