Special Screening & Panel Discussion | The Extraordinary Caterpillar | FREE

Climate Action NOW Monthly Film Festival is thrilled to present our monthly film screenings that will help us navigate through climate impacts, biodiversity loss, and the plastic crisis in our communities with innovative solutions.

“If you build landscapes without these powerhouse native plants that support caterpillars, the food web is doomed.” —Doug Tallamy

"The caterpillar does all the work, and the butterfly gets all the applause." — George Carlin

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." — Bradley Miller

JOIN US for The Extraordinary Caterpillar Screening followed by Panel Discussion

DATE: Monday April 27, 2026
TIME: 7:00-9:30 PM
LOCATION: Cinema Arts Theatres
9650 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22031
FREE!
Ample Parking

BOOK SEATS NOW!

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Award-Winning THE EXTRAORDINARY CATERPILLAR
Directed by JEFF MCKAY, featuring Doug Tallamy
TVO Films

Experience the enchanting world of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a TVO Original documentary. This captivating film reveals the crucial role of these tiny creatures in transforming parks and backyards, powering ecosystems that support everything from songbirds to grizzly bears.

With stunning macro videography by naturalist Sam Jaffe, viewers will explore the fascinating survival skills and ecological importance of caterpillars. Produced by Merit Motion Pictures and directed by Jeff McKay, the documentary features insights from leading experts, including entomologist Antonia Guidotti and author Doug Tallamy.

Join young explorers and gardeners as they highlight community efforts in caterpillar conservation, celebrating nature’s ultimate transformation artists and inspiring a new appreciation for the vibrant ecosystems around us. Don’t miss this eye-opening journey!

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OUR EXCEPTIONAL PANELISTS:

MADDIE BRIGHT, Executive Director of Earth Sangha where she has worked full-time on native plant conservation since 2011, and where she grew up as the daughter of co-founders Lisa and Chris Bright. Maddie has worked closely with ecologists, botanists, and park managers across the Northern Virginia region on plant conservation and ecological restoration projects over the years, including a brief stint interning at Huntley Meadows Park. She regularly teaches for the Arlington Regional Master Naturalist chapter and serves on the steering committee for the National Capitol Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management.

STEPHANIE MILLER, Watershed Education and Outreach Fairfax County Stormwater Management. Danielle has been a freshwater ecologist with the Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division since 2002. Danielle has an undergraduate degree in Biology and Master's degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University. Her duties include stream insect and fish surveys, bacteria sampling, and field assessments of habitat and water quality. She leads the award-winning Watershed Education and Outreach section and has a passion for working with students and teachers to help promote the importance of environmental stewardship and education. Danielle has worked with tens of thousands of students and looks forward to educating many more.

JOANNE HUTTON, JOANNE HUTTON, CoChair, Plant NOVA Natives campaign, Arlington Regional Master Naturalists. Joanne is an accredited Master Naturalist and Master Gardener dedicated to fostering biodiversity and higher quality habitats in our built environments, educating the public, and sharing sustainable practices & values within faith communities.

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

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EVENT SPONSOR: Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3.
EVENT PARTNERS: Plant NoVa Natives, Earth Sangha, FIRA, Trace – The Zero Waste Store, American Solar USA, Go Electric DMV, Climate & Clean Energy Working Group.

BOOK SEATS NOW! Theatre only holds 240. We anticipate a SOLD OUT event.

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AGENDA

6:30-7:00 PM | Gathering in Theatre Atrium, connect with event Partners to learn more about how to make small changes in your lives to restore biodiversity, reduce and drawdown carbon, and live more sustainably
7:00 PM | OPENER
7:15 PM | SCREENING of The Extraordinary Caterpillar
8:30- 9:30 PM | PANEL DISCUSSION Q&A

JOIN US & BOOK SEATS NOW!

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Bring your own EMPTY drink and popcorn containers (that you can use to buy a drink and popcorn at Cinema Arts Theatres concession stand) to help make this a WASTE FREE event!

If the seats become fully booked, and there's a waitlist, please show up at the door anyway. There are usually enough no-shows for everyone to get in.

CANMFF Monthly Film Festival SPECIAL EVENTS Fall 2025/Winter 2026

Monday October 27, 2025 | OCEAN

Monday November 17, 2025 | WILDING

Monday February 23, 2026 | SEA LEVEL RISE, 3 Shorts

Monday March 23, 2026 | PLASTIC PEOPLE

Monday April 27, 2026 | THE EXTRAORDINARY CATERPILLAR

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Host or Publisher Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3