Motivated by concerns about the planet his four-year-old daughter would inherit, Damon embarked on a global journey to meet innovators and changemakers in the areas of economics, technology, civil society, agriculture, education and sustainability. Drawing on their expertise, he sought to identify the best solutions, available to us now, that would help improve the health of our planet and the societies that operate within it. From marine permaculture to decentralized renewable energy projects, he discovered that people all over the world are taking matters into their own hands. This journey is a story of hope that looks at the very real possibility that humanity could reverse global warming and improve the lives of every living thing in the process. (APRIL 16-17) 

Director’s Statement: Damon Gameau

2040 is a letter to my four-year-old daughter, showing her an alternative future to the doom-and-gloom version we are currently presented with. But there is a catch. This is not an exercise in bad parenting; everything I show her in 2040 must already exist today in some form. It cannot be made up. This film is not a utopian fantasy; it is an exercise in what I call “fact-based dreaming.”

It was important to ensure that what I present isn’t just my version of the future, so almost 100 children around the world between the ages of six and eleven were consulted on camera and asked what they would like to see in 2040. The authenticity of their answers is as inspiring as it is concerning.

In addition, we consulted experts around the world across areas as diverse as farming, aquaculture, civic design, transport, education and more. What started out as a film about reversing global warming and lowering emissions quickly became a story about strengthening communities, improving the quality of food and soil, embracing cheaper and cleaner energy and transport, plus restoring habitats and eco systems. By doing these things, we will naturally heal the environment around us.

Filming 2040 has taught me that if we are to survive, we must reclaim the metaphors of our distant ancestors who saw themselves as “reverent guests” or “custodians of the land.”