Verdes Raízes – From the Ground Up is a feature-length documentary by Inês Rueff and Vera Moutinho that follows four individuals deeply involved in pivotal environmental struggles in Portugal over the past fifty years.

Their personal journeys reflect a shared commitment to community and nature, reveal the essential link between democracy and civic engagement, and offer a reflection on the changing role of activism today.

Through the voices of everyday people, the film explores what compels someone to step beyond their comfort zone and devote themselves to an environmental cause. Both activists and citizens are under growing pressure.

Climate activists are increasingly portrayed as disruptors, while protest itself is becoming criminalized in many parts of the world. At the same time, citizens face a crisis of representation, adrift in a landscape shaped by social media, disinformation, and political disillusionment. How do we resist? How do we change?

With the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and produced by More Than Stories, the documentary is set to premiere in October 2026.