A riveting look at a key moment in the history of the climate crisis, The White House Effect travels back in time to document how a crucial opportunity to take real action on global warming was not just squandered but deliberately undermined. The documentary focuses on the pivotal years of the George H.W. Bush administration, when the entire country was waking up to the reality of global warming and Bush had pledged to use “the White House effect” to tackle it. As the world prepares for the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Bush faces mounting pressure to make a decision that will change the course of history—culminating with the U.S. undermining a global agreement to set hard limits on emissions, setting the stage for an increasingly hot, dangerous, and polarized future.
Biography:
Bonni Cohen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the co-founder of Actual Films. Cohen is known for the Oscar-nominated Lead Me Home and the Emmy-winning Athlete A. Some of Cohen’s films either received awards or were featured at Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and Cannes Film Festival. In addition, Cohen is also a Critics’ Choice Award and BAFTA nominee.
Justine Nagan is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker. She is currently the Executive Vice President at Actual Films, and has previously held positions at American Documentary, Inc., where her work had received Oscar nominations, and Kartequim Films. Some of Nagan’s productions include Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore and Make A Splash, which screened at Sundance and Tribeca, respectively. Nagan has also produced for Disney+ and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the PGA, and the Television Academy.
Josh Penn is a producer known for the Oscar-winning Beasts of the Southern Wild. He has also produced episodes for PBS’ Independent Lens.
Noah Stahl is a producer known for Reality, which was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, and Celeste & Jesse Forever.
