— the nonprofit film and media center co-founded by Robert Redford and his son, the late James Redford — has rolled out a series of voting-themed films meant to spark turnout among Americans who care about planet earth., is a collection of 10 short films that talk about the importance of voting in preserving natural places and in maintaining the health of communities.
The campaign was one of the last center initiatives in which documentarian James Redford was involved in before he died on Oct. 16 at age 58 of cancer of the bile ducts. Even amid his battle with cancer, in the last few months of his life, according to his wife Kyle Redford, “he spent a lot of time viewing and editing” the short films. She says the new group of films fit into his vision for the Redford Center.
In past years, The Redford Center always had taken “a very nonpartisan approach” in its work, says Tidman. These latest films represent a new approach, sparked by “all of the environmental rollbacks," adds Tidman, that have been carried out under the Trump administration. “James was very excited for this being one of the first ways we could get in the game a bit differently," she adds.
To find creators for the new campaign, the center put out a request for proposals to its network of filmmakers, working in collaboration with the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Working Films, Far Star Action Fund and Culture Surge. More than 100 proposals were submitted in 10 days. James and Kyle's son Dylan Redford, a filmmaker and new board member of the Redford Center, was among the reviewers.