Everyone downstream is drinking lies.
When toxic chemicals seep into a Tennessee town's water supply, a grieving pastor and an idealistic environmental engineer must unite their shattered communities before corporate negligence claims more lives than just his wife's.
DOWNSTREAM follows Mack, a small-town Tennessee pastor whose faith shatters when his wife dies from cancer linked to contaminated water. When environmental engineer Ren Hayes arrives to investigate the chemical plant upstream, she discovers evidence of deliberate corporate negligence stretching back decades.
As more people fall ill and the community fractures between those who trust the company and those demanding justice, Mack must choose between his grief-fueled desire for vengeance and the redemption offered by truth, accountability, and collective action.
Set against the backdrop of rural Appalachia, DOWNSTREAM explores how corporate power, environmental devastation, and economic dependency create impossible choices for ordinary people. It's a story about what we're willing to sacrifice for justice and what we're willing to forgive for survival.
Post-Flint, post-East Palestine, environmental justice is front-page news. Audiences are hungry for stories that show the human cost of corporate negligence.
Unlike other environmental films, DOWNSTREAM explores the moral complexity of communities economically dependent on the very companies poisoning them. These aren't simple villains and heroes—they're neighbors, families, and friends facing impossible choices.
By centering a pastor's crisis of faith, the film appeals to faith-based audiences while exploring universal questions about suffering, forgiveness, and redemption.
The film can serve as a catalyst for conversations about water safety, corporate accountability, and environmental justice in communities across America.
Low-budget character dramas rooted in specific communities consistently outperform their budgets when the story is urgent and authentic. The faith + environmental justice angle creates crossover appeal between two passionate, underserved audiences who actively seek meaningful content.
This lean, efficient budget allows us to capture the authentic Tennessee locations and powerful performances that will make DOWNSTREAM resonate with audiences. Every dollar goes directly into production value that serves the story.
| Category | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Production | $3,500 | 7% |
| Cast | $6,000 | 12% |
| Crew | $12,000 | 24% |
| Equipment & Locations | $8,500 | 17% |
| Production Design & Wardrobe | $3,000 | 6% |
| Post-Production | $10,000 | 20% |
| Music & Sound | $4,500 | 9% |
| Contingency | $2,500 | 5% |
| TOTAL | $50,000 | 100% |
Tennessee offers a 25% tax rebate on qualified production expenses, effectively reducing the net cost by $12,500 on the micro-budget. This makes Tennessee one of the most attractive states for independent film production.
Target specialty theatrical release followed by streaming platform acquisition (Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+). Environmental documentaries and dramas consistently perform well on streaming platforms.
Partner with faith-based distributors (Angel Studios, Affirm Films) for targeted release to Christian audiences who respond to stories of crisis, doubt, and redemption.
License to universities, environmental organizations, and advocacy groups for educational purposes. Partner with organizations like Earthjustice and Sierra Club for impact campaigns.
Environmental justice is a global concern. Strong potential for international festival circuit and foreign sales, particularly in Europe where environmental films perform well.
Ayla Demirci
Writer/Producer/Actress
aylamahree@gmail.com
(615) 485-5008
Nashville, TN