Josh Fox brings ‘The Welcome Table’ film to COP31 climate summit
The music-filled film examines climate displacement as a central issue at the summit, where advocates are pressing for attention to refugees. It follows survivors across six continents who have lost homes to wildfires, floods, hurricanes, drought and mudslides, arguing that welcoming marginalized people offers the best path forward instead of exclusionary barriers.
Fox, an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker, previously directed 'Gasland,' the 2010 documentary on fracking risks that helped spur opposition to the practice. He has made additional award-winning films on climate and environmental justice and serves as artistic director of the International WOW Company. He was recently elected a fellow of the Sanders Institute.
A two-minute trailer and six-minute clip are available online, with screener links for the full film provided on request. The documentary recently aired on HBO and streams on HBO Max. It is touring in November with screenings scheduled for Catskill, New York on November 14, Manhattan on November 17, Washington, D.C. on November 19, Brooklyn on November 20-21, and Los Angeles on November 23.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned ahead of COP31 that 90 million people face displacement from severe climate risks. Climate-related disasters caused more than 255 million internal displacements worldwide over the past decade. At the summit, Refugees International is urging negotiators to include displaced communities in talks. This summer ranked as the hottest on record in the United States and Europe, with wildfires in Europe and North America plus glacial collapse in the Himalayas triggering further movements. Scientists predict billions could be displaced this century, with up to 3.5 billion facing Sahara-like conditions.
Reviewers have described the film in vivid terms. Robert Dean of Book and Film Globe called it 'a moving work of art… colorful and vivid, filled with slivers of joy, depth, and heartache.' John Fugelsang of Sirius XM said it is 'next level… beautiful and powerful… entertaining and gripping… one of the most creatively bold films I've seen in quite a while.' Rose Aguilar of KALW termed it 'beautiful and devastating… a fantastic, incredible documentary' that explores 'one of the most defining questions of our time.' Pat Mullen of POV Magazine noted its 'jazzy… provocatively effective… charming, empowering' quality that 'strikes just the right emotional tenor.' Jacob Soboroff of MSNBC called it 'extraordinary,' while Amanpour on CNN found it 'visually compelling and powerful.' Decider praised it as 'striking and memorable,' and Alec Baldwin described Fox as 'a great, great, great filmmaker' whose work audiences should watch. Additional notices from Heatmap, the LA Times, Jacobin and Counterpunch highlighted its engaging and direct approach.
Fox, based in New York and New Orleans, is available for interviews during the COP31 summit and afterward. Inquiries can be directed to Stephen Kent at skent@kentcom.com or 914-589-5988.
