Fossil Foolish

Fossil Foolish (working title) tells the story of two North American nations giving lip service to a clean energy transition while simultaneously ramping up fossil fuel exploitation and exports. Our project is a series of nine short films, plus a feature-length film, exposing the United States’ and Canada’s hypocrisy as they lock in to decades of massively increased fossil fuel exports, all while positing themselves as world leaders trying to keep the planet habitable for future generations.

Highlighting the inspirational movers and shakers who are diligently standing in the way of new fossil fuel infrastructure developments, the Fossil Foolish series exposes illegitimacy behind the proponents’ efforts. The films illustrate how communities are undermined as corporate developers and their government regulators conspire to spend public funds to benefit the fossil fuel industry. They also expose how private property is seized under the pretense of imminent domain, for the benefit of these same corporations rather than for the common good. And importantly, we will examine how indigenous rights are being undermined yet again.

Specific short film topics include: 

• Resistance to Line 3 Pipeline in Minnesota

• Outcomes of the historic Dakota Access Pipeline fight at Standing Rock, along with analysis of necessary next steps

• Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion in southern British Columbia, and the resulting increased tar sands tanker traffic in the Salish Sea and down the Pacific Coast to San Francisco Bay

• Expansion of the Phillips 66 Refinery and export terminal in San Francisco Bay

• Utah Inland Port network and Uinta Basin Oil Train 

• Coastal Gaslink Pipeline and Kitimat Port expansion in northern British Columbia and their impacts on Wet'suwet'en First Nation territory and waters. 

• Mountain Valley Pipeline resistance in Virginia. 

• Numerous proposed pipelines and liquified fracked gas export terminals in the Gulf of Mexico

• Enbridge Pipeline and export terminal in Brownsville, Texas

The feature film will tie together all of these fossil fuel export infrastructure developments and expose their cumulative impacts to the planet and humanity.

We will showcase the chaotic conflicts on the front lines and also take the story beyond, giving voice to the financial experts, scientists, politicians, indigenous leaders and impacted citizens who are approaching the problem from their unique perspectives. Their voices will illuminate the impacts of increasing fossil fuel exploitation and exports, and what it means for our future.

The Fossil Foolish film series will be widely distributed online through our partnerships with affinity stakeholders.

A film by Jennifer Ekstrom