(TEANECK, NJ) -- As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, the Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF) continues its tradition of "Activism: Making Change" with the powerful environmental documentary Plastic People, screening on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 12:30pm at the Puffin Cultural Forum, followed by a dynamic panel discussion on the growing crisis of microplastics and what New Jersey can do to lead the way toward a cleaner, safer future.
Sponsored by the Teaneck Creek Conservancy, the film explores the hidden danger of plastic pollution—from the packaging we discard daily to the invisible microplastics now found in our water, air, food, and even our bodies. Directed with urgency and clarity, Plastic People traces the global consequences of humanity's addiction to plastic and amplifies the voices of scientists, activists, and everyday citizens demanding accountability and action.
Tickets are available for purchase online. The Puffin Cultural Forum is located at 20 Puffin Way in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Following the screening, a distinguished panel will discuss how communities and lawmakers can confront this mounting environmental and health threat.
Panelists include: Victoria Augustine, Steering Committee Member, Beyond Plastics Queens; Gina Moreno, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Paula Rogovin, Teaneck environmental activist and educator.
The conversation will focus on the ongoing campaign urging the New Jersey Legislature to pass landmark legislation addressing microplastics contamination — a move that would make New Jersey one of the first states to formally regulate the presence of microplastics in drinking water and consumer products.
"As a festival rooted in activism, TIFF has always sought to turn awareness into action," said TIFF Executive Director Jeremy Lentz. "Plastic People is more than a film — it's a call to protect our planet, our communities, and our own health from a problem we can no longer ignore."
The screening is part of TIFF's 20th anniversary lineup, a milestone year for the festival known for combining art, social justice, and community dialogue.
Now celebrating its 20th year, the Teaneck International Film Festival, a project of the Puffin Foundation, continues to spotlight socially conscious cinema that sparks dialogue and inspires change. With its enduring theme "Activism: Making Change," TIFF brings together filmmakers, audiences, and advocates committed to telling stories that matter.
