MARK DECENA - SELECTED FILMS

Farming While Black

Trailer for feature documentary in development. Featuring Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm, part of a new generation of Black Farmers returning to the land.

Somasapiens

a collaboration between the SOMA West Community Benefit District and award-winning filmmaker Grant Thompson. Inspired by the photo series ‘Humans of New York’, SOMASAPIENS seeks to share and celebrate the human stories that are the living tapestry of this vibrant community.

Remothering the Land

This short film, a co-production with Patagonia Films, highlights traditional Indigenous farming practices as a source of resiliency for local communities, as well as solutions for the larger issues facing our Mother Earth. The film points out that Indigenous people are indeed the original regenerative organic farmers who have relevant knowledge — not only about growing food, but how to live in harmony with the planet and each other.

Bay Area Bountiful

Mark Decena profile, “Bay Area Bountiful” aired on NorCal Public Media, 2021

Watershed

Executive Produced and Narrated by Robert Redford. Premiered at the 2012 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, plus 50 other festivals and over 500 community screenings. Aired on PBS.

Not Without Us

Premiered at the 2016 San Francisco Green Film Festival, Official selection of Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, Festival International de Cine del Medio Ambiente, Barcelona, Spain and aired nationally of PBS.

Stand Up Planet

A Gates Foundation funded documentary TV show that looks at global development issues through the lens of stand-up comedy. Hosted by Hasan Minaj. Aired on KCETLink Public Television and Pivot TV and premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2014. Now available on Linkᵀⱽ (Writer and Producer)

Me & My Robot

This documentary features participants of the World Robot Olympiad. It premiered at the 2020 COPDOC festival in Copenhagen and Aired nationally on PBS.

e² Portland

Premiered at the 2016 San Francisco Green Film Festival, Official selection of Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, Festival International de Cine del Medio Ambiente, Barcelona, Spain and aired nationally of PBS.

Dopamine

Premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Prize. Ten city theatrical release, aired on the Sundance Channel

Art of Activism

Series of six short films featuring Bay Area based activists working across the gamut of issues: from education reform to environmental justice to voter rights. 

Where We Live

This film portrays the pivotal role played by grassroots organizers in mobilizing the vote in immigrant and low income communities to defend California’s historic global warming legislation.

Unflinching Triumph

The Mockumentary broke ground as the first feature conceived entirely for web release and was highlighted by the Wall Street Journal as a "Top 5 What-to-Watch", was nominated for a Webby, and recognized by Sports Illustrated as “the most amusing parody of 2006.”

C 1.5

Short film about the fastest case of human evolution in history

One of Those Days

Short film, premiered at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival.

The Light

Short film trailer about Adam Reiter and a traffic light that tries to tell him something.

The War Inside

“Live documentary” performance commissioned for the Center for Asian American Media. Premiered at the Closing night of the 2013 CAMM Fest.

Our Power

Short film documents the gathering of the Navajo people in Black Mesa, AZ who, as part of the Climate Justice Alliance, striving to generate alternative clean energy. Premiered at the 2014 Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

A Generation Asks: WTF?

Short film of a generation asking what can be done, and how do we do it.

Better Not More

Short documentary framing the concept of the Commons; reclaiming the right to things that provide a way of life: air, water, land, knowledge. This plenary film for Edge Funders Alliance screened at a Global Equity philanthropy conference and 2016 Degrowth Conference .

How We Live

Short film produced for a Global Social Justice philanthropy conference and explores the principles of  a transition to a socially just economy. SF Green Film Festival, Climate Crisis Film Festival and over 48k views online.