The United Nations Association Film Festival returns to the Bay Area with another urgent, globally expansive lineup. Running from October 16–26, the 28th edition of UNAFF brings 60 documentary films to venues across Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Stanford University. More than just a film festival, UNAFF is a civic forum—a space for dialogue, reflection, and action.

This year’s theme, “Messages for the Future,” speaks to our collective responsibility in the face of mounting social, environmental, and political threats. The program underscores the festival’s unwavering devotion to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while asking us to reflect: What imprint will we leave behind? 

Big Nights Spotlight

The festival opens Thursday, October 16, at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto, with remarks from Mayor Ed Lauing.

The evening begins with the World Premiere of An Ordinary Insanity, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Judith Ehrlich (The Most Dangerous Man in America). The documentary focuses on whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg’s lifelong campaign against nuclear weapons, exploring how moral courage can shape public discourse—and history. 

 

Also screening on Opening Night:

• Stand Together as One, by Chip Duncan, revisits the journalist-led campaign behind We Are the World, reminding us of music’s role in activism. 

• Following Harry, by Susanne Rostock, captures the final 12 years of Harry Belafonte’s extraordinary life of resistance and compassion. This is a West Coast Premiere screening. 

The festival closes Sunday, October 26, at Mitchell Park with a joyous, high-energy exploration of funk music’s evolutionary roots. We Want the Funk!, by Stanley Nelson and Nicole London,  traces the cultural and political impact of funk across continents and decades, from James Brown to George Clinton to Fela Kuti. 

First Looks: World Premiere Screenings

In addition to An Ordinary Insanity, there are three other films debuting their world premieres at UNAFF. 

• The Burning, by Isabella Alexander-Nathani, takes audiences across the world’s deadliest migration route, the Mediterranean Sea. Filmed undercover, over the course of 10 years and across 12 countries, this feature documentary brings the untold story of Africa’s refugee crisis to light for the first time. 
• Exodus, by Bob Miller, is a modern day exodus story about an elderly man living in Khartoum (Musa) who enlists the help of a young college student (Emmanuel) to heroically facilitate the evacuation and resettlement of thousands back to the relative safety of their homeland. 

• Soaking the Ground, by Fred Rahal, profiles a young peasant farmer and a hard-working juçara fruit harvester who strive to sustain their communities in a region deeply impacted by climate change. 

 

Missed It? Catch It Here!

There are many festival favorites at UNAFF, too. If you didn’t happen to catch one of these films at another festival or event, UNAFF is the place to watch it. 

• Arrest the Midwife, by Elaine Epstein, follows a group of renegade Amish and Mennonite women as they break with tradition, and become unlikely activists fighting for change.

• The Chaplain and the Doctor, by Jessica Zitter, follows two unlikely allies working to bring curiosity, connection, and compassion to a broken healthcare system – one patient at a time. 

• The Librarians, by Kim A. Snyder, depicts how librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. 
• Post Atlantic, by Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow, explores the visionary world of legendary African-American painter and philosopher Dewey Crumpler as he connects the transatlantic slave trade to modern globalization, demonstrating what it means to be a working artist with a conscience in today’s society. 

• The Spies Among Us, by Jamie Coughlin Silverman and Gabriel Silverman, is a rare look into the inner workings of a data-driven surveillance state run by one of the most feared secret police forces the world has ever known—East Germany’s Stasi. 

From midwives and musicians to dreamers and refugees, the films at UNAFF remind us of what’s at stake, what’s possible, and what’s happening behind closed doors. Don’t miss what lies ahead and the imprint that we will leave behind. See these “Messages for the Future” before it’s too late.

 

A Community Forum

Founded in 1998 by Stanford educator and film critic Jasmina Bojic, UNAFF was originally created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As one of the oldest documentary-only film festivals in the U.S., it has become a platform for education and learning. “Our democracy is under attack, and we believe that the best shield is knowledge,” says Bojic. 

One of the hallmarks of UNAFF is its robust program of free community events and panels that encourage learning, engagement and dialogue. Panels include special guests, filmmakers, and industry subject matter experts. 

UNAFF panel dates:

• Kindness: The Catalyst for Social Change – Oct. 18
• Active Climate Change Responses – Oct. 19
• Criminal Justice: Punishment vs. Reintegration – Oct. 20
• The Role of Social Media – Oct. 21
• Healthcare: Science and Truth Under Siege – Oct. 23
• Humanizing Complex Political Issues – Oct. 24
• Democracy and Media in the Age of AI – Oct. 25

Full list, times, and locations available at unaff.org/2025/schedule.html. 

More Festival Info

Explore the films at UNAFF.

See the festival schedule by date.

Get tickets and passes for the festival.

Lansia Wann is a seasoned film publicist and journalist who produced exclusive radio and podcast content at festivals for 10 years. She provides an insider’s look at the stories, filmmakers, and enduring mission behind the United Nations Association Film Festival.

UNAFF Staff
Now in its 28th year, the United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) stands as one of the longest-running documentary film festivals in the United States. Recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “Top 25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” and honored by institutions including UNESCO, Stanford University, and the Academy Foundation, UNAFF continues to spotlight global issues through the lens of documentary filmmaking. This behind-the-scenes perspective is provided by festival staff—without spoilers.