Mark Decena, Director
Selected films for Emerson College Project
Raised by an immigrant single mother, Mark spent his formative years softening hard adobe clay soil with compost. Besides keeping him in line, it infused Decena with a love of growing things– to date: feature films, television shows, and short film series.
A three time Sundance alumni, Mark's first feature, Dopamine won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize. Decena's documentary work spans across themes of social justice, sustainable design and the environment. He wrote and directed the Redford Center film, Watershed, and was a writer and producer on Stand Up Planet, a Gates funded project that aired on Participant Media’s channel, Pivot and KCET. His film, Not Without Us, premiered as the closing night film at the S.F. Green Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS. Mark is also the founder of Kontent, a boutique production company based in San Francisco, housing a Kollective of award winning filmmakers, producers and creatives working on original and branded works.
FARMING WHILE BLACK
Teaser for feature film in production: The Story of a Rising Generation of Black Farmers. Based on the book “Farming While Black” by Leah Penniman.
REMOTHERING THE LAND
Trailer: A co-production with Patagonia Films, the short film looks at the origins of regenerative agriculture: Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous practices.
GIFT
1 of 3 short films: Series about sculptor, Peter Schifrin, and his body of work including the Norman Lear installation at Emerson College.
WATERSHED
Trailer: Documentary feature about the Colorado River, executive produced and narrated by Robert Redford. Produced with the Redford Center.
ME & MY ROBOT
Trailer: Short film (premiered at COPDOX 2021) following young people competing in the World Robot Olympiad to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.
ACTIVISM REEL
Compilation reel of our work to generate positive change.