Abstract
Tomorrow Begins Here is a feature-length documentary that examines climate impact through the lived experiences of the people of Kiribati, a low-lying island nation in the central Pacific. As a changing climate contributes to rising seas and disruptive weather threatens entire communities, this film captures how local voices express resilience, faith and the fight to preserve culture and identity amid global environmental inequity. This study explores how documentary film can democratize knowledge and bridge geographic, linguistic and ideological borders in a polarized world. While dominant climate narratives often originate in the global North, Tomorrow Begins Here reverses this flow by centering the Kiribati perspective. It portrays islanders not as passive recipients of aid but as active storytellers whose insights expand global understandings of climate justice. The discussion situates the film within the 2026 conference theme, examining how independent documentary production redistributes epistemic authority through participatory, community-based storytelling. The film’s production involved collaboration with Kiribati youth trained in visual storytelling, ensuring their experiences shaped the narrative. By highlighting these participatory methods, the presentation positions documentary filmmaking as a decolonizing practice; one that challenges academic gatekeeping, navigates inequitable digital access and creates new pathways for global engagement. Tomorrow Begins Here offers a case study in how visual media can transform personal stories into shared awareness and collective responsibility across borders.
Presenters
John GoheenSenior Professional in Residence, Journalism, Loyola University Chicago, Illinois, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Beyond Borders: Democratizing Knowledge in a Polarized World
KEYWORDS
DOCUMENTARY FILM, CLIMATE CHANGE, DEMOCRATIZING KNOWLEDGE, PARTICIPATORY STORYTELLING, DECOLONIZING MEDIA, GLOBAL SOUTH, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY, INDIGENOUS VOICES, MEDIA AND IDENTITY
