My Name is Climate Film Festival 2026 Birmingham
The 11th edition of the My Name is Climate Film Festival took place in Birmingham, UK, at the Lyttleton Theatre on September 18-19, 2026. Discover highlights and insights from this impactful event.
CLIMATE ADVOCATE BREAKING NEWS
MY NAME IS CLIMATE
9/29/20266 min read
BIRMINGHAM, UK — The 11th edition of the My Name Is Climate Film Festival (MNICFF 2026) concluded successfully at the Lyttleton Theatre, Birmingham & Midland Institute, on 18–19 September 2026. Attracting more than 300 film submissions from across 35 countries, the international summit brought together filmmakers, actors, young storytellers, environmental professionals, academics, and audiences for two days of climate cinema, awards, and actionable discourse.
The festival addressed critical issues—from extreme weather events and ecological degradation to biodiversity restoration, ocean health, and human-nature interconnectedness. Programme sessions connected urgent global crises, including Himalayan flash floods, Arctic ice retreat, and European heat extremes, directly with the regional climate and resilience challenges facing Birmingham and the wider UK.
High-Level Panel: 'The Cost of Silence'
The headline event of the programme was the special panel discussion, “The Cost of Silence: The Hidden Price of Looking Away,” moderated by Lalit Bhusal, Founder of the My Name Is Climate Foundation and Festival Director.
The non-partisan public conversation united municipal government, documentary cinema, academia, and international advocacy:
Paul Fisher, Assistant Director for Health Protection & Place at Birmingham City Council, provided a crucial local-government and public-health perspective on urban climate risks and community well-being.
Professor Alan Marcus examined how documentary storytelling and academic engagement effectively communicate multifaceted environmental crises.
Dr Purva Taveri, director and researcher, presented global insights on indigenous circular practices and systemic sustainability.
International Scope Evaluated by an Eight-Member Jury
A defining hallmark of the 2026 festival was its multidisciplinary international jury panel. Bringing together deep expertise across filmmaking, journalism, human rights advocacy, sustainable enterprise, and European climate policy, the full jury panel comprised:
Karen Johnson — Festival jury member and programme host.
Andy Vermaut — Belgian journalist, human rights defender, and Global Climate Ambassador.
Kavita Panjan Dhar — Human rights advocate and founder of Kavrin Films.
Débora Sa — Founder and CEO of Planet Caretakers (Portugal) and European Climate Pact Partner.
Roberta Bosu — Climate communications strategist and speaker working at the nexus of narrative change, climate justice, and environmental governance.
Maxim Alexander LeFleur — Filmmaker, writer, and researcher focusing on public affairs, narrative media, and the ecological crisis.
Johnny Stengel — Co-founder and CEO of Strategic Alliances for a Viable Earth (SAVE).
Anar Ahmad Zada — Sustainable business and climate innovation professional working across the EU Climate Pact.
Award Winners — MNICFF 2026
The festival honoured exceptional contributions across animation, investigative documentary, and children's cinema:
Best Teen Climate Storytellers Award (Ages 13–18):
The Grass Was Greener Yesterday — Directed by Araminta Stuart (UK)
Recognised for powerful animation capturing environmental loss, nostalgia, and youth perspectives on a changing planet.Best Director — Best Feature on Climate Issues from India:
Dr Purva Taveri for India's Circularity – Not a Trend, But a Tradition from the Margins
Celebrated for documenting indigenous reuse, repair, and circular traditions across Rajasthan, Sikkim, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh.Best Climate Feature Film for Children & Best Actress:
Mermaid Beach — Directed by Sam P. Green & Rebecca J. Matthews (UK)
Blending coastal fantasy with marine conservation; lead actress Ellie Bindman received Best Actress for bringing depth and courage to the role of Lily.Best Feature Documentary Film on Climate Issues from the Netherlands:
Green Musketeer
Honouring the vision of late Dutch inventor Pieter Hoff and his son Wout Hoff in combating global desertification through water-saving technology and reforestation efforts across China, Mexico, and the Great Green Wall of Africa.Audience Award — Short Documentary Film on Climate Issues:
Saliqmiut: people along the coast, at the edge — Directed by Alan Rudolph Marcus
A compelling visual study contrasting Los Angeles wildfire devastation with accelerating coastal erosion confronting the Inuit community of Tuktoyaktuk in Arctic Canada
In addition to official screenings, organisers presented special commendations to visiting directors and creators whose work contributed to the broader climate storytelling community.
The complete recipient list for all festival awards will be published on our portal by 5 October at:
Green Innovation, Film Distribution, and Educational Outreach
Extending its impact well beyond the two-day screening schedule, MNICFF reinforced several ongoing initiatives:
Green Innovation Pitches: The festival provided a dedicated platform for environmental innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers to pitch sustainable products, circular initiatives, and clean technologies directly to creatives, investors, and public-sector leaders.
International Film Distribution: The festival continues to bridge the gap between filmmakers, international distributors, and sales agents, ensuring selected titles reach wider commercial and broadcast markets.
Cross-Border Educational Collaboration: Selected films are integrated into tailored screening programmes across schools, colleges, and universities. The foundation reinforces this educational footprint through its sister event, the Almere International Film Festival in the Netherlands, which works in close partnership with international schools and universities to host screenings, filmmaking masterclasses, and climate dialogues.
Sustainable Production: MNICFF actively promotes green filmmaking protocols, encouraging production teams to minimise their ecological footprint behind the camera.
Urgent Global Appeal: Support Nepal Flash Flood Victims
During the proceedings, the festival issued an urgent international call for climate justice and immediate humanitarian aid for victims of catastrophic flash floods in Nepal.
While Nepal produces virtually zero carbon emissions, its vulnerable communities bear 100% of the devastating consequences of global environmental inaction and escalating glacier collapse. Festival organisers urge readers, filmmakers, and the global public to step forward and support frontline relief operations.
Donations directly support vulnerable families with shelter, food, clean water, and emergency rebuilding efforts.
Donate via WhyDonate: whydonate.com/fundraising/nepal-flash-flood-emergency-relief-fund
"This year’s festival brought people together across borders through the universal language of cinema," stated Lalit Bhusal, Festival Director. "Receiving entries from 35 countries demonstrated that whether we are speaking about flash floods in Nepal or heatwaves across Europe, our challenges and solutions are deeply interlinked. We cannot stand by while nations like Nepal suffer the catastrophic fallout of global climate inaction. By supporting emergency relief, providing pitching platforms for green innovators, and working through our educational networks in the UK and Almere, we turn cinema into real-world rescue and reform."
Submissions Open for MNICFF 2027: New SDG Category Introduced
Submissions for the 12th My Name Is Climate Film Festival (2027) are officially open via FilmFreeway.
Reflecting the expanding scope of international environmental advocacy, the upcoming 2027 edition will debut a dedicated competition category aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Filmmakers worldwide are invited to submit projects across all genres—including animation, documentary, features, and shorts—exploring:
Climate change, resilience, and clean energy
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Environmental justice and biodiversity preservation
Nature, oceans, and human-animal relationships
Youth perspectives and innovative climate solutions
To support emerging talent, the festival maintains free submission fee waivers for eligible young storytellers and emerging creators.
Submit via FilmFreeway: filmfreeway.com/mnicff
MNICFF2026 Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1695875642537572&type=3
MNICFF2026 Post Film Festival Video Montage: https://youtu.be/85ljnlnZ-3c
Notes to Editors
About My Name Is Climate Film Festival (MNICFF)
The My Name Is Climate Film Festival is an annual international cinematic showcase dedicated to climate issues, sustainability, and environmental justice. Through public screenings, professional panels, awards, and distribution support, MNICFF connects impactful filmmaking with audiences and decision-makers globally.
About My Name Is Climate Foundation
The My Name Is Climate Foundation works internationally to advance climate awareness, ecological leadership, and community action through film, storytelling, and education. Alongside MNICFF in the UK, the foundation organises the Almere International Film Festival in the Netherlands, collaborating extensively with academic institutions to engage the next generation.
Official Website: www.mynameisclimate.com
Festival Summary Facts
Event: My Name Is Climate Film Festival 2026 (11th Edition)
Dates: 18–19 September 2026
Venue: The Lyttleton Theatre, Birmingham & Midland Institute, Birmingham, UK
Submissions: 300+ films from 35 countries
Stand with Nepal: Urgent Flash Flood Relief
Devastating flash floods have swept through communities across Nepal, washing away homes, livelihoods, and precious lives. Families and vulnerable populations are now left with nothing, facing acute shortages of shelter, clean drinking water, food, and emergency medical care.
The cruel paradox of this disaster is undeniable: Nepal contributes virtually 0% of global carbon emissions, yet it is bearing 100% of the catastrophic impact caused by worldwide climate inaction and ecological neglect. The people suffering the most are the ones who contributed the least to the global climate crisis.
We urgently call on every reader to step forward and support our emergency relief fund. Your contribution goes directly toward aiding victims and their grieving families, delivering vital survival essentials, and helping rebuild lives on the ground.
Support the emergency relief campaign on WhyDonate:
👉 whydonate.com/fundraising/nepal-flash-flood-emergency-relief-fund
Every donation—no matter the amount—delivers immediate shelter, food, and hope to those fighting to survive this crisis. Please donate today and share this call to action.
