On the Fenceline: A Fight for Clean Air

Selected as one of 2021's Best Documentaries by Video Librarian

On the Fenceline: A Fight for Clean Air is an urgent call for justice for Philadelphia's low-income communities. After years of living on the fenceline of the east coast’s largest oil refinery and suffering from several critical health issues – including cancer, asthma, and COPD – residents have come together to stand up to CEOs and fight for their right to breathe.

On June 21, 2019, an explosion at the refinery was the tipping point for the majority of residents. As the now-defunct refinery land has been put up for sale, the opportunity has finally come for community members and environmental activists to shut down operations for good.

The film follows three particular members of the activist organization: Sonya Sanders, a resident who fights for a better future for both her son and sick husband, Carol White, a resident whose health was impacted by the June explosion and who lost a mother to cancer, and Rodney Ray, a former refinery laborer whose family has resided in the area for multiple generations. Viewers are put up-close and personal on the streets with Philly Thrive as this resilient community fights to keep the refinery closed for good.

Throughout the film, we begin to see and understand that against all odds, communities have the power to stand up to large corporations.

FILMMAKERS' STATEMENTS: "We put a lot of love and care into representing this story, and it's really heartening that other people are finding meaning in it. We're living in a time where wins for environmental and racial justice really need to be widely celebrated. The best part of having this story shared transnationally is knowing that this organizing work is being celebrated beyond this small community in South Philadelphia.

There was a lot of trust in our team, creatively and logistically, which I think really helped us with this process. We made the best documentary we could have possibly made because we all approached this with different experiences and viewpoints."

— Tara Eng

"Spreading the voice of Philly Thrive beyond just the city of Philadelphia is so important to other people struggling. Seeing the success and power that Philly Thrive has on your screen in the form of a film will give confidence to others fighting for their own rights, whatever their struggle is. Oil refineries are a terrible and dangerous threat to our environment, and sharing that message with the world and sharing Philly Thrive's fight is so important to make our world a better, more hospitable place to live."

— Alex Klein

Preview link available upon request. Contact support@videoproject for more information

Documentary Film - Video Project - On The Fenceline

A Film by Tara Eng, Kristen Harrison, Alex Klein, and Alisha Tamarchenko

25 minutes

Scene Selection • Closed Captioned

Grades 8 - Adult

Item #: OTF-2005

A Philadelphia community protests a local oil refinery that has been the source of health issues and a bankrupting explosion

Starting at $69

Licensing Options

K-12 Classrooms, Public Libraries: DVD - $69 K-12 DVD + Digital File - $119 Colleges, Businesses, Institutions: DVD - $199 Colleges: DVD with Digital Site License - $299 Community Screenings: Please Complete 'Host a Screening' Form found on top menu bar K-12 School District pricing available. Please inquire at [email protected]

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Reviews and Festivals

"Consider for government, environmental science, health classes, and for discussions involving social justice and activism."

— School Library Journal

"Recommended. Powerful and can spark debate...A great addition for libraries looking to build collections about social justice, environmental policy, and racial disparities...Can serve as a great conversation starter and may inspire others to think about how they can work with their community to make necessary change."

— Educational Media Reviews Online

"In this inspiring program, three activists claim their "right to breathe" as they speak out against resuming the [cut] production...A celebration of the power of grassroots movements and community involvement."

— Booklist

"At only 25 minutes, this documentary packs a punch...On the Fenceline is a strong, succinct piece of storytelling that forces us to grapple with the exploitation of underprivileged communities through the lens of one group's fight for survival. Their story is a compelling reminder of the power community holds and the importance of making your voice heard, even if no one wants to hear it. Highly Recommended."

— Video Librarian

"This documentary puts tenacity on full display. The film is a resilient portrait of a South Philadelphia community fighting to shut down the east coast's largest and oldest oil refinery."

— Visions Film Festival and Conference

"Portrait of a resilient community and an urgent call for justice"

— Fractracker Alliance

"My initial reaction to seeing the documentary was an emotion of awe and shock at the same time. The shots, editing, sound and camera angles were all amazing."

— Christopher Tinti, Graduate Student, Ithaca College

BROADCAST ON PBS

WINNER

Visions 10 Film Festival and Conference, Best Documentary

Urbanworld Film Festival, Honorable Mention, Best Environmental

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Urbanworld Film Festival

American Documentary and Animation Film Festival

Better Cities Film Festival

Colorado Environmental Film Festival

Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capitol

First-Time Filmmaker Sessions

Nashville Film Festival

Newark International Film Festival

Philadelphia Film Festival

Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival

SCAD Savannah Film Festival

Urbanworld Film Festival

Visions 10 Film Festival and Conference

Wild and Scenic Film Festival

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