PLASTIC PEOPLE

Awarding-Winning PLASTIC PEOPLE
Directed/Produced by
Ben Addelman
a Climate Action NOW Monthly Film Festival Film
Monday March 23, 2026

The award-winning feature documentary Plastic People investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ever made breaks down into “microplastics.” These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, and mix into the soil, becoming a permanent part of the environment.

Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers. What is the impact of these invisible invaders on our health? And can anything be done about it?

Acclaimed author and science journalist Ziya Tong takes a personal approach by visiting leading scientists around the world and undergoing experiments in her home, on her food, and her body while collaborating with award-winning director Ben Addelman (Discordia,Bombay Calling, Nollywood Babylon, Kivalina v. Exxon)in an urgent call to action for all of us to rethink our relationship with plastic.

OUR AWESOME PANEL:

MALA PERSAUD, Owner of TRACE, The Zero Waste Store in Vienna, VA, and serves on the Town of Vienna’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission. Mala is a former journalist turned communications consultant and sustainability entrepreneur. Transitioning from a career in network journalism where she was based in London for more than a decade, Mala then applied her skills and global perspective to help a range of global health, development and sustainability shape their communications strategies. Driven by a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, in 2019, Mala took a step into entrepreneurship, founding Trace: The Zero Waste Store in Vienna, VA. At Trace, Mala has created a destination for eco-conscious consumers, with more than 150 package-free foods, soaps, detergents and personal care items, in addition to hundreds of eco-friendly products. Trace’s mission is to champion ethical consumption and provide a platform for community education. Mala has just received the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award.

STEPHANIE MILLER, Former Director of Climate Business at the World Bank Group and the author of Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way: The Busy Person’s Guide to a Lighter Footprint. She founded Zero Waste in DC where she reaches a wide audience through keynote presentations, learning events and household consultations.

STAY TUNED FOR ONR MORE PANELIST!

MODERATOR:

ELLE KATHERINE CLEVELAND is an English and Communication Major at George Mason University, where she is dedicated to honing her skills in effective communication and literary analysis.

EVENT SPONSOR: Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3.
EVENT PARTNERS: Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance (FIRA), Trace – The Zero Waste Store, Climate & Clean Energy Working Group, Go Electric DMV.

BOOK SEATS NOW! Limited Seating!