Documentary on Climate Activists Wins Top Prize at International Festival
The Reserve” Captures Best Feature at Morelia Film Festival, Spotlighting Environmental Defenders in Latin America
MEXICO CITY, October 20, 2025 — The climate activism documentary The Reserve (La reserva) won Best Feature Film at the 23rd Morelia International Film Festival on October 17, bringing unprecedented attention to the dangers facing environmental defenders across Latin America. Director Pablo Pérez Lombardini’s debut feature, which chronicles a forest ranger’s battle to protect her remote Chiapas community from illegal logging and mining, also secured the festival’s top directing and acting honors.
The film’s triple win reflects growing international recognition for documentaries that center grassroots climate activists rather than political figures or scientific data alone. According to recent industry analysis, climate-themed films have increased 340% on the festival circuit since 2020, with activist-driven narratives representing the fastest-growing subgenre. The trend aligns with audience demand for solutions-oriented storytelling; a 2025 Sundance Institute survey found 78% of documentary viewers prefer films featuring “actionable climate justice narratives” over traditional issue-exploration formats.
The recognition arrives amid alarming data about those on the front lines of environmental protection. A comprehensive investigation published this year documented573 killings of environmental defenders across ten hotspot countries over the past decade, with nearly half involving state authorities . This violence underscores the urgency of films like The Reserve, which uses real testimonies from threatened activists to dramatize the personal costs of conservation work.
“The jury was unanimous in selecting a film that captures both the ecological and human stakes of environmental defense,” said festival director Alejandro Ramírez. “Pérez Lombardini’s decision to cast non-professional actors from affected communities creates an authenticity that transcends traditional documentary boundaries.”
The Reserve follows Mariana, a fictional forest ranger based on composite interviews with over two dozen Mexican environmental defenders, as she organizes her Indigenous Zoque community against multinational mining interests. Filmed in the mountainous regions of Chiapas with a crew that was 70% local, the production prioritized ethical storytelling practices, including revenue-sharing agreements with participating communities.
The Morelia victory positions The Reserve for international distribution during a competitive awards season. The documentary joins a robust 2025 slate of climate activist films gaining traction, including This Is Not a Drill (GlobeDocs Audience Award winner) and Only on Earth (Best Feature Documentary at FICMEC Canary Islands). Industry trackers note that streaming platforms have acquired 40% more climate justice documentaries this year compared to 2024, with Netflix and Apple TV+ leading bidding wars for festival favorites.
“These films are no longer niche—they’re core programming,” said Dr. Elena Vargas, CEO of CineClimate Productions, the film’s distribution partner. “When audiences see the personal sacrifice behind every protected hectare of forest, they understand that climate action is about human courage, not abstract policies. The Reserve proves that local stories have universal power.”
The film’s production budget of $380,000 was financed through a combination of impact investors, the Mexican Film Institute, and the Global Climate Media Fund, which supports frontline community storytelling. Early festival screenings have already catalyzed real-world outcomes: the Tzotzil community featured in the film’s opening sequence used screening fees to fund legal challenges against illegal land concessions, winning a temporary injunction in September 2025.
The Reserve will next screen at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November, followed by its North American premiere at DOC NYC. International rights negotiations are ongoing, with theatrical releases planned in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia for early 2026, supported by grassroots activist organizations in each region.
About CineClimate Productions
CineClimate Productions is a Mexico City-based impact media company specializing in climate justice documentaries from the Global South. Since 2021, the company has distributed 23 films that have reached over 15 million viewers and driven $2.3 million in direct community funding. CineClimate operates on a shared-revenue model, returning 30% of profits to the communities featured in its films.
Media Contact
Sarha Al-Mansoori
Director of Corporate Communications
G42
Email: media@g42.ai
Phone: +971 2555 0100
Website: www.g42.ai
