It’s a classic David vs. Goliath scenario: A group of fed-up, alarmed citizens, living on key stretches of land in Louisiana and Appalachia's Rust Belt where factory pollution and fracking have become de rigueur, square off against big business and politicos. The mobilized and impassioned group prove to be a formidable foe, demanding answers and accountability as they find themselves thrust into a role they never imagined they’d play: accidental activists. Giants Do Fall relates the devastating personal toll incurred by communities near petrochemical factories and fracking sites, and also how historical racism and corruption reflect another facet of these environmental disasters. Beyond that, Megan Ponder and Stiv Wilson’s documentary serves as an inspirational testament to the collective power and might ordinary citizens can wield when they unite around a common cause to protect what they cherish and hold dear. —Randy Myers
Megan Ponder and Stiv Wilson are filmmakers and longtime collaborators on plastic pollution advocacy projects. Together, they created the Emmy Award-winning documentary The Story of Plastic (2019), which aired worldwide on the Discovery Network. Inspired by years of working alongside communities on the frontlines of plastic pollution, they founded the storytelling nonprofit Peak Plastic Foundation. Their latest film and impact campaign, Giants Do Fall, celebrates its world premiere at the 2026 Mill Valley Film Festival.
MEGAN PONDER: Director