Driven Apart

2025 • USA, Mexico • 20 min • Julián Trejo Bax

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Has Subtitles, First Time Filmmaker, World Premiere, Making Waves Recipient, Staff Pick

After turning her Chicago home into a monarch butterfly sanctuary, Claudia Galeno-Sánchez, an environmental activist, Mexican immigrant, and mother is on a mission to save the monarch butterfly, an important symbol for both her family and millions of others in the United States.

2025 • USA • 8 min • Summit Olson

Adult Language, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance

A 17-year-old’s first film offers an intimate look at the climate crisis, current events and a trip West through a teenagers eyes. It is brave to admit you are scared.

2025 • USA • 11 min • Daniel Wroblewski

Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Student Filmmaker

A look at the annual efforts to deploy and maintain the data collecting buoys by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences. From scientists and sailors to weather forecasters and beachgoers, these buoys play an integral part of our lives to help us better understand and respond to the changing conditions of the Great Lakes.