World Water Film Festival - How to Poison a Planet: Screening & Expert Panel on the PFAS Crisis
PFAS—our so-called “forever chemicals”—are everywhere: flowing through our water, seeping into our soil, and coursing silently through our blood. Once invisible, they now carry a staggering toll—cancer, infertility, immune collapse—while billion-dollar lawsuits and community uprisings reveal just how deep the damage runs. Science is racing to catch up, and the truth is unavoidable: the PFAS crisis is one of the greatest public health and environmental reckonings of our time.
Join us for an exclusive Climate Week x World Water Film Festival (WWFF) screening of the award-winning documentary How to Poison a Planet, followed by an unmissable conversation with leaders on the frontlines of science, policy, and law who are reshaping the fight for water safety and environmental justice.
For more on this film and to view the trailer visit: https://www.howtopoisonaplanet.com/
Interdisciplinary Expert Panel
Henk Ovink – Executive Director of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water and former Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, recognized worldwide for redefining water as central to climate, equity, and security.
Mae Stevens – Chair of Water Infrastructure Practice at Banner Public Affairs and Founder of Safe Water Voters, a leading national voice driving PFAS regulation, federal water investment, and environmental justice.
Dr. Upmanu Lall – Director of the Water Institute at Arizona State University and Professor in the School of Complex Adaptive Systems; former Director of the Columbia Water Center, leading global initiatives on water sustainability and resilience.
Gary Douglas – Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame attorney and lead counsel in the first federal PFAS case, securing a landmark $12.5B settlement with 3M.
Rebecca Newman – Senior Associate at Douglas & London P.C., specializing in environmental toxic tort litigation and a core member of the PFAS legal team.
Amara Strande fought to ban PFAS while dying of cancer. Now Minnesota has the nation's strictest law that passed. Amara's father Michael and sister Nora continue her advocacy, and will be joining us from Minnesota to share their advocacy experience.
For more on their story check out the CBS news segment on them: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pfas-minnesota-forever-chemicals/
Engage & Explore
Experience a curated water tasting led by renowned water sommelier Milin Patel, who will guide us through the subtle—and not so subtle—differences in our most vital resource.
Connect with World Water Film Festival representatives to explore opportunities for support and collaboration.
Mingle with fellow guests over light food and drinks, continuing the conversation sparked by the film and panel.
Agenda
6:00–6:30 | Registration, Water Tasting & Networking with curation of Experimental Films
6:30–8:00 | Introduction & Film Screening
8:00 –8:45 | Expert Panel Discussion
8:45–10:00 | Networking, Water Tasting & WWFF Mingle
This crisis touches every one of us. Join the conversation, stand with the community, and help drive the call for clean, safe, and just water systems.
Thank you to our sponsor Sciens Water for making this program possible! For more on Sciens Water visit https://scienswater.com/