On May 1st, 2026 at 6:00 PM Central Time, Films For The Forest returns with an exciting live event at The Rosette in Austin, Texas, bringing together filmmakers, conservationists, and audiences from around the world. This year’s showcase highlights powerful storytelling through short films that explore forests not just as landscapes, but as living systems deeply connected to the ecosystems around them.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live worldwide, allowing audiences everywhere to experience the films and join the celebration of environmental storytelling. The event will be recorded for additional showings throughout the year, extending the reach of these important stories far beyond the night of the premiere.
A Global Community of Filmmakers
The Films For The Forest competition continues to grow in global participation and impact. For the 2025/2026 season, we received more than 70 film submissions from 24 different countries, representing a diverse range of perspectives, cultures, and ecological stories.
Each film offers a unique lens into the role forests play in sustaining life on Earth—from biodiversity and wildlife habitats to cultural traditions and climate resilience. The diversity of submissions reflects the global importance of forests and the creative passion of filmmakers committed to environmental storytelling.
This Year’s Theme: “More Than Trees”
The theme for the 2025/2026 competition is “More Than Trees.”
Forests are far more than collections of trees. They are vibrant, interconnected systems that exist in continuous synergy with the ecosystems around them. Through this theme, filmmakers were challenged to take audiences deeper—into the relationships between forests, wildlife, water, communities, and climate.
The selected films explore these connections in imaginative and compelling ways, helping audiences experience forests as dynamic environments that shape life on our planet.
A Distinguished Judge: Richard Linklater
We are honored once again to have Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater serving as one of the judges. Linklater has been involved with Films For The Forest since the competition’s inception, generously lending his time and expertise to help recognize outstanding environmental storytelling.
His continued participation reflects the growing importance of creative voices in raising awareness about the natural world and inspiring action through film.
Join Us Live — From Austin or Anywhere
The May 1st event at The Rosette will feature the premiere screening of the selected films along with an opportunity to celebrate the filmmakers who brought these stories to life.
If you’re in Austin, we hope you’ll join us for the live screening experience. For our global community, the livestream ensures that audiences anywhere in the world can participate in the event.
We will also be sharing information soon about ticket availability, so stay tuned for updates.
Support Films For The Forest
Events like this are made possible through the support of our community. We are currently seeking early sponsors for the 2026 event who want to help elevate environmental storytelling and amplify the voices of filmmakers around the world.
If your organization is interested in supporting Films For The Forest, you can learn more on our sponsorship page.
We also welcome donations from individuals who want to help us expand the reach of these films and continue supporting filmmakers dedicated to conservation storytelling.
Your support helps ensure these powerful stories continue to be seen by audiences everywhere.
Stay Tuned
As we get closer to the event, we’ll be sharing more updates about the selected films, participating filmmakers, and how you can join the celebration.
Mark your calendar for May 1st, 2026 at 6 PM Central Time and stay tuned for ticket announcements and streaming details.
Together, we can help bring the stories of forests—and the ecosystems they sustain—to audiences around the world.
