A City in the Forest

When the city of Atlanta announces plans to build the largest police training center in the US—destroying a vital urban forest in the process—a decentralized activist movement mobilizes to stop “Cop City”.

Forest defenders occupy the Weelaunee Forest, disrupting construction through direct action. Their resistance delays the progress of police militarization, but the celebration is cut short when police raid the camp and kill one of the activists, Tortuguita. Grief turns to defiance as protests spill into the streets, transforming a local land struggle into a national reckoning over policing, environmental justice, and democracy.

With rare access, A City in the Forest witnesses the power of collective organizing in an urgent and historic struggle.

Website: acityintheforest.com

AWARDS:

Sheffield DocFest - Special Mention Award for International First Feature Film (World Premiere, June 2026)

DokuFest - Special Mention Award for Human Rights Dox Competition (Balkan Premiere, August 2026)

DMZ Docs - Jury Special Mention Award for International Competition (Asian Premiere, September 2026)

Nashville Film Festival - Best Feature Documentary (TN Premiere, September 2026)

UPCOMING SCREENINGS:

NewNext Film Fest - Oct 2, 2026

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival - October 15, 2026

Chicago International Film Festival - October 18 + 19, 2026

Green Film Festival of San Francisco - Oct 22, 2026

Tacoma Film Festival - Oct 24, 2026

New Orleans Film Festival - October 25, 2026

PAST SCREENINGS:

A City in the Forest Festival (Atlanta Premiere, September 2026)

Festival de Sevelin (Switzerland Premiere, Sept 2026)

Lemesos International Documentary Film Festival (Cyprus Premiere, August 2026)

SUPPORT FROM:

2024: Ford Foundation JustFilms Production Grant, Scottish Documentary Institute Edinburgh Pitch, Center for Independent Documentary Kopkind Seminar

2023: Southern Documentary Fund Production Grant, MountainFilm Commitment Grant, Yale Law School DocProject, Freedom of the Press Foundation