05.16.23
Mary Kay is sponsoring a film spotlighting women conservation leaders, as executive producer of Forest of Hope, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy.
Forest of Hope is an eye-opening documentary that highlights women leaders in forest conservation. The film was screened at the 17th Dallas International Film Festival earlier this month.
The short film tells the story of Angélica Torres, leader of Mujeres Unidas Para La Conservacion de Laguna de Sanchez, and a group of female entrepreneurs as they combat environmental challenges in the area surrounding Monterrey, Mexico.
Forest of Hope takes viewers to a small mountain town, surrounded by Cumbres National Park, a natural reserve known as “The Lungs of the Region.” Fires and clear-cutting have destroyed over 30% of the local forest—and other ecological disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding, and water supply issues, remain a constant threat.
The film was written, directed, and produced by an all-female team, has also been screened at the North Dakota Environmental Rights Film Festival, Hot Springs International Women’s Film Festival, Green Film Festival, and La Femme International Film Festival.
Cris Graves, Forest of Hope’s director, comments, “Forest of Hope was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the amazing woman at the center of the documentary—Angélica Torres. In telling her story, we were able to touch on several important issues: the importance of family and community, protecting and preserving the environment, and female empowerment. At 71 years young, Angélica proves that you’re never too old to make a difference in this world.”
Mary Kay has supported other women-directed and produced environmental documentaries such as Guardians of the Gulf, an eye-opening documentary that explores the tumultuous relationship between the Gulf of Mexico and the conservationists determined to protect it.
For decades, Mary Kay has demonstrated a commitment to conservation and nature-based solutions. Mary Kay has supported conservation projects, on land and below water, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Arbor Day Foundation to drive impact in critical areas such as reforestation and ocean conservation.