Support for Climate Defiance Documentary ‘Just Look Up’ Grows with Help from Adam McKay, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Billie Eilish, and Others at CPH:DOX
EXCLUSIVE: Climate Defiance, a group of young activists led by founder Michael Greenberg, has made headlines by disrupting significant events, including a charity baseball game, public appearances by politicians and fossil fuel executives, and even a Broadway production of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People.
During the March 2024 performance of An Enemy of the People, Climate Defiance members interrupted actors Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli, with one activist declaring, “No theater on a dead planet!”
A documentary entitled Just Look Up, set to premiere Wednesday at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, chronicles Greenberg’s journey as he transforms his fledgling organization into a prominent force for climate action. Directed by Emma Wall and Betsy Hershey, the film is produced by Natja Rosner and four-time Oscar nominee Signe Byrge Sørensen. Adam McKay, who directed the 2021 film Don’t Look Up, serves as executive producer alongside Oscar nominee Joshua Oppenheimer.
The film’s synopsis introduces Michael Greenberg as a “brazen visionary” and highlights his group’s radical approach, drawing parallels to historic movements including Gandhi’s Satyagraha and the Civil Rights Movement. The activists employ nonviolent direct action to challenge Big Oil, corporate CEOs, and the political figures supporting them.
The film portrays a diverse group of activists as they navigate challenges, regroup, and continue their fight to safeguard the planet. Accompanied by a dynamic soundtrack featuring artists like Chappell Roan, Doechii, and Billie Eilish, the film emphasizes the urgency and stakes for a generation facing a climate crisis.
According to the directors, the project was born out of frustration with conventional timelines for change. They express their desire to explore the impact of individuals taking immediate action in the face of environmental degradation and social injustice. Their findings suggest that disciplined, nonviolent disruption has historically led to societal shifts.
Wall and Hershey discuss that Climate Defiance’s approach often unsettles and challenges societal norms, noting, “Discomfort was not collateral damage. It was the strategy.” They describe the activists as both fragile and fierce, navigating a landscape filled with uncertainty yet refusing to succumb to despair.
The filmmakers emphasize, “This isn’t simply a film about protest. It is about the stubborn human impulse to fight for a livable future.” The documentary captures a blend of defiance, humor, and unwavering determination as it highlights the struggles faced by activists like Greenberg.
Timothy Grucza serves as the film’s cinematographer, while Adam Nielsen is credited as the editor. The original score is composed by RØMANS, and the soundtrack showcases an impressive lineup of artists, including Tyler, The Creator, Childish Gambino, Bob Dylan, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and others.
