There’s Something in the Water

There’s Something in the Water

There’s Something in the Water is a powerful and deeply personal documentary that exposes the devastating effects of environmental racism in Nova Scotia. Co-directed by Elliot Page and Ian Daniel, the film takes its name from Ingrid Waldron’s acclaimed book and shines a spotlight on the Black and Indigenous communities fighting for justice against decades of industrial pollution and government neglect.

Premiering at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, the documentary blends investigative journalism with empathy and activism. Through firsthand accounts from residents of Shelburne, Pictou Landing, and other affected regions, the film connects the dots between systemic inequality and environmental destruction—revealing how marginalized voices are too often silenced in conversations about progress.

Page and Daniel’s approach is intimate yet urgent, using interviews and on-location footage to capture the strength, resilience, and dignity of those demanding accountability. The result is both a local story and a universal one: a call to recognize that environmental justice is inseparable from human rights.

There’s Something in the Water is more than a film—it’s a rallying cry for equity, awareness, and collective action, reminding viewers that the fight for the planet must include the fight for all its people.

Screening With:

Peaks and Valleys: The Search for Ryan Shtuka

Canadian Shorts Showcase

20-year-old Ryan Shtuka vanished from a BC alpine resort town in February 2018. This is the story of the mystery surrounding his disappearance and the people who relentlessly search for him.

20 mins
Canada, 2019
Dir. Russell Walton & Jared Featherstone
Language: English

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