Staten Island Film Festival Features Climate Change Environmental Film “Mariposas Negras”
Soledad Haren
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We asked the following of the film’s promoter, Build A Better Planet, here on Staten Island:
What will be the activities during the rest of the event when the movie is not playing? Will there be speakers or a second movie that will be shown, or will it be dinner and networking?
We only have one film for the evening. It’s “Mariposas Negras” (“Black Butterflies”), a Spanish film which will be in the running for an Oscar next year. I will give a short talk about the film, as it looks at Climate Change and its impact on immigration, particularly women and children. Breuk Iversen will, also, say a few words about the Staten Island Film Fest, and the intended goal to revitalize the St. George/Downtown area, while bringing jobs and tourism to Staten Island. (Tourists just get off the ferry, then go right back to Manhattan. We want to give them a reason to see Staten Island as a destination).
We didn’t have dinner, but we will have snacks and drinks (wine, beer, sangria).
This event is made possible by Kreindler & Kreindler. They are 9/11 VCF attorneys for folks affected by 9/11. (I’m a 9/11 survivor, so they helped me with my claim.)
About the Film Fest Sneak Preview:
On October 21, 2025, Build A Better Planet hosted the Staten Island Film Fest Sneak Preview at Beso, 70 Bay Street, in St. George. Guests at this free event enjoyed Latin fusion tapas, wine, and sangria, while watching Mariposas Negras (Black Butterflies), a beautifully animated film by Spanish Director David Baute, that tells the true stories of three Climate Refugees, and takes a look at how Climate Change leads to Climate Migration. This event was made possible by a generous sponsorship from Kreindler & Kreindler LLP, which has helped 9/11 victims and their families for more than 20 years, including victims who worked in Lower Manhattan and at the Fresh Kills landfill recovery site on Staten Island.
In 2026, Build A Better Planet will spin off the Better Planet Film Festival from the Staten Island Film Fest. The Better Planet Film Festival will focus on Environmental Films, and will take place during Climate Week in September, 2026. This festival will have a dual purpose: to make educational, environmental films available to the public for free and to draw awareness and tourism to the Downtown area of Staten Island. The 2026 event will be a full-day event featuring several films. It is our hope that the festival grows to become its own destination, bringing tourists from around the world to Staten Island, and creating jobs in the process, while helping to revitalize the Downtown area.
About Mariposas Negras (Black Butterflies): 🦋
Mariposas Negras (Black Butterflies) is a 2024 animated film directed by Spanish Director, David Baute, that tells the stories of three women — Tanit, Shaila, and Valeria — who are forced to migrate due to Climate Change. The film, which is based on real testimonies, follows their journeys from different parts of the world as they face new forms of exploitation in their new homes. It highlights the struggles of climate refugees and the resilience of the human spirit.
Below are a few images from the film festival:
Staten Island Film Festival event. Image Credit – Soledad Haren
Staten Island Film Festival event. Image Credit – Soledad Haren
Staten Island Film Festival event. Image Credit – Soledad Haren
Staten Island Film Festival event. Image Credit – Soledad Haren
About Build A Better Planet:
Build A Better Planet is a non-profit media organization. We publish BABP’s Green Living Magazine, and produce several podcasts about sustainability and Green Living. We, also, produce several music shows (Rock, Spanish Rock, and Jazz) featuring Indie artists from New York and around the world who work for a greener planet in their own communities. All of our artists are Indie artists who create their own original music. All of our podcasts are available on our online radio platform, 3rd Strike Radio, which can be accessed for free anywhere. We have no paywalls or memberships to keep our programming accessible for everyone. Our past shows are on YouTube or www.archive.org. We run internship and mentorship programs for students interested in STEAM (video and audio editing and production, journalism, photography, writing, illustration, etc.). We welcome high school and college students. At present, two of our music shows are produced by New York City high school and college students. Any students interested in an internship can reach out at info@buildabetterplanet.org
3rd Strike Radio: 3rd Strike Radio is a non-profit, publicly funded online radio station. We are heard around the world. As a non-profit radio station, we answer to stakeholders, not shareholders. So, we can bring you educational and informative programming, as well as the best Indie artists from around the world.
If anyone would like to support our work, they can donate via the “Donate” button on the 3rd Strike Radio website or via PayPal using the email address: info@buildabetterplanet.org.
Banner Image: View of the animated film “Mariposas Negras” Image Credit – Staten Island Film Festival
I worked near Ground Zero on 9/11, and was asked to return to work 3 days later. That exposure to the 9/11 toxic dust took a toll on my health, but that would spark my interest in Green Living. In 2004, I left the legal field, and went to work in the restaurant business. I worked as a chef in Manhattan & Brooklyn, eventually opening my own catering business, which closed in 2020 due to the Pandemic. However, I started Build A Better Planet in 2012 to share what I'd learned about Green Living, health, wellness, sustainability, and environmental issues with others.
Our website: www.buildabetterplanet.org
Our free online radio station: www.3rdstrikeradio.com
All new music shows are out now, including our 3-hour Halloween Rock special, 3rd Strike Rock. All artists are Indie Artists, who help Mother Earth in their own communities.
