Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has signed on to executive produce “Unearth,” a new documentary that will make its world premiere at DOC NYC on Nov. 16.
Directed, produced and shot by Hunter Nolan, “Unearth” tells the story of two sets of siblings — the Salmon sisters and the Strickland brothers — who live in Alaska’s Bristol Bay. Both sets of siblings are alarmed when they learn of and fight against advanced plans for a Pebble Mine — a massive open-pit gold and copper mine — in the vicinity of their homes. The Salmon sisters, Native Alaskans, work on the regulatory front, pushing the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to block the project, while the Strickland brothers, independent fishermen, expose the truth behind what the Pebble Mine developer is telling the public. The 93-minute doc reveals systemic failures in mining and the balance between the need for materials and their environmental costs.
“This film reminds us of the promise that activism holds in the face of fatigue and disillusionment,” Brockovich said. “I’m deeply inspired by Christina and AlexAnna Salmon’s unwavering determination to safeguard Bristol Bay from the environmental and cultural devastation that the proposed Pebble Mine could bring. “Unearth” carries on my legacy of empowering women and communities to overcome systemic injustices.”
Brockovich signed on to executive produce the film after Nolan sent the film to her agent earlier this year.
“When we thought about people that have inspired us, Erin was at the top of that list as an individual that successfully held an industry accountable for its wrongdoings,” said Nolan. “There was no question about it when we had the opportunity to connect with her agent. As soon as Erin watched the film, she was on board.”
Nolan co-directed “Unearth” with the Strickland brothers — Auberin and Dunedin. He is seeking distribution for the film out of DOC NYC. The director is hopeful that Brockovich’s involvement with the doc will help lead to an eventual sale.
“Erin’s story has become shorthand for successfully facing down a powerful entity,” says Nolan. “It’s an incredible recognition that she sees our film as a continuation of that story. People are hungry for hope and inspiration, and we feel that Erin’s role as EP helps signal that our film can nourish that appetite.”
When President-elect Donald Trump recently picked former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA, it was seen as a step backward for U.S. environmental policy and landmark climate regulations. Under the new EPA leadership, Nolan’s “Unearth” could be seen as a battle cry doc.
“Bristol Bay will continue to be at risk until we learn as a society to value healthy communities, clean water, and intact ecosystems,” Nolan said. “As the mining industry races to meet skyrocketing demand for mined materials, the need for effective regulations and the means to enforce them is greater than ever. In the face of the tailwinds to extractive industries that are likely under the new administration, our film affirms that every single one of us can and must be the hero we’ve been waiting for, no matter who is in power.”
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