Interview by Paul Salfen
Narrated by extraordinary award-winning actor David Oyelowo (“Selma,” “Nightingale”), and featuring interviews with Dr. Beverly Law, Professor Emeritus, Global Change Biology, Oregon State University; Margo Robbins, Yurok, Cultural Advisor; and Dr. Jack Cohen, Research Physical Scientist, US Forest Service (Ret.), Scientific Advisor, among others,” Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” takes viewers on a journey with the top experts from across the nation to better understand wildfire. The film starts with the harrowing escape from Paradise, California as the town ignited from wind-driven embers and burned within a few hours of the fire’s start and then continues to recent record shattering fires.“Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” includes the voices of the top forest and climate experts, Indigenous prescribed firelighters, and fire survivors, and helps reimagine our relationship with fire as we prepare for an increasingly hotter, drier future.
“Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” is for everyone living in the western United States who wants to better understand the challenges wildfire poses and the solutions to keep our homes and communities safe. The film challenges conventional wisdom and superficial talking points, while providing a revealing historical view of how we got to where we are today. The film takes viewers into the field with indigenous fire managers and top fire and climate scientists to explore how wildfire, healthy forests and communities can coexist.
In the wake of the slew of deadly fires in Oregon, California, Colorado, Washington, Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico, “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” is an important look at discovering how we can all reimagine our relationship with wildfire, and prepare to live with this powerful force. This insightful documentary is good medicine for everyone in the West and it has screened to numerous sold-out audiences at special events and been selected for over 30 film festivals and won numerous awards. The film poses the critical question of how can we coexist with extreme wildfires?