Salted Earth

Directed by Ben Hemmings

Screening: Sunday, 9/29 @ 9:45am | Run Time: 20 min

Synopsis

"Salted Earth" plunges us into the heart of an invisible and creeping crisis that's transforming the Mid-Atlantic – the inexorable rise of sea levels. This hard-hitting, yet tenderly woven 20-minute documentary paints a vivid picture of an escalating environmental catastrophe, where the threat is not just the swelling sea, but the encroaching salt that kills forests and decimates arable land, but could also signal a return to the natural order of the Atlantic Coast.

Our journey navigates the brackish waters of climate change alongside an intrepid team of scientists. Through their tireless work, they seek to unravel the intricacies of how salty water infiltrates groundwater and soils, with consequences as far-reaching as they are devastating. Their research is more than academic; it's a desperate quest for solutions that may help vulnerable communities adapt and even survive.

"Salted Earth" is not only a saga of scientific discovery. It's also a story of human resilience and ingenuity. We venture into the heart of communities, the lifeblood of the Mid-Atlantic, whose existence is at stake. We see firsthand the farmers struggling to preserve their livelihoods, community leaders forging ahead with audacious resilience strategies, and everyday individuals battling the rising tide.

Through intimate interviews with scientists, farmers, and community leaders, "Salted Earth" provides a sobering, yet inspiring look at the very real and present challenge of sea-level rise. It asks a question that affects us all: Can our strategy against the rising sea succeed, or are we fighting an unwinnable war?

The answer may unsettle you, but the journey is one you cannot afford to miss. Watch "Salted Earth" and see the future of our world through a salt-streaked lens.

Director Statement

"Salted Earth" was born from a collective urgency to unmask the silent crisis of rising sea levels in the Mid-Atlantic. In our pursuit, we found a story that transcends scientific data; one of communities grappling with a looming threat. We made this film to humanize the statistics, to reveal the faces and voices affected by encroaching salt. Our hope is that by weaving science with humanity, "Salted Earth" compels viewers to not just witness but empathize, fostering awareness, and driving future research projects and solutions to these issues.

Ben Hemmings