Plastic People (film)
| Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ben Addelman Ziya Tong |
| Written by | Ben Addelman |
| Produced by | Stephen Paniccia Vanessa Dylyn |
| Narrated by | Ziya Tong |
| Cinematography | Roger Singh |
| Edited by | Ania Smolenskaia |
Production company | White Pine Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics is a 2024 Canadian documentary film directed by Ben Addelman and Ziya Tong, which examines microplastics and their impact on the human body.[1]
Release
The film premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival,[2] and had its Canadian premiere at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival.[3]
It was later broadcast by CBC Television in March 2025 as an episode of The Nature of Things.[4]
Critical response
Nick Holdsworth of Modern Times Review wrote that "Plastic People does not say it, but capitalism and the unfettered greed of corporations are the real villains here. And the only real answer to tackling plastic pollution is the same answer to so many 21st ills – to redesign the system so that we run our lives to support and fulfil people, not a handful of vulgar billionaires."[5]
For Variety, Owen Gleiberman wrote that "one of the great values of a documentary like “Plastic People” is that it takes an issue you think you’ve grasped and colors it in. It takes your scattershot information and fuses it into a fuller vision — of the past, and the future."[1]
Awards
| Award | Year | Category | Title | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Screen Awards | 2025 | Rob Stewart Award | Peter Raymont, Stephen Paniccia, Vanessa Dylyn, Rick Smith, Steve Ord | Nominated | [6] |
| Best Direction in a Documentary Program | Ben Addelman, Ziya Tong | Won | [7] | ||
| Best Editing in a Documentary Program or Series | Ania Smolenskaia | Nominated | [6] |
References
- ^ a b Gleiberman, Owen (March 14, 2024). "'Plastic People' Review: An Essential Documentary About How Plastic Is Literally Invading Us All". Variety.
- ^ Brendan Christie, "Rainmaker picks up Plastic People ahead of SXSW debut". Playback, March 7, 2024.
- ^ Cormier, Zoë (May 8, 2024). "The Harsh Reality of Becoming Plastic People". Point of View. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ J. Kelly Nestruck, "What to watch this weekend: Happy Face leers at a Canadian serial killer’s daughter on Paramount+, while Ludwig comes to BritBox". The Globe and Mail, March 20, 2025.
- ^ Holdsworth, Nick (October 24, 2024). "Born pre-polluted". Modern Times Review. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Pat Mullen, "The Tragically Hip, Okurimono Lead Canadian Screen Award Documentary Nominees". Point of View, March 26, 2025.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal Dominates Canadian Screen Award Doc Winners". Point of View, May 31, 2025.