NASA Brings Planetary Defense to Sundance Film Festival with New Documentary
January 18, 2025 / WASHINGTON — NASA is set to make its debut at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, showcasing its upcoming documentary, Planetary Defenders. The documentary, which will premiere in spring 2025 on NASA’s streaming service, NASA+, takes viewers behind the scenes of the high-stakes world of asteroid hunting and planetary defense.
“We’re thrilled to be attending Sundance for the first time – a festival known for its innovative spirit,” said Brittany Brown, director of NASA’s Office of Communications Digital and Technology Division. “Our participation is a groundbreaking opportunity for NASA to collaborate with the film industry, share new storytelling possibilities, and inspire a renewed sense of wonder about space exploration.”
Planetary Defenders raises the critical question: how would humanity react if we discovered an asteroid heading toward Earth? The film follows real-life astronomers and experts as they navigate the complexities of asteroid detection and planetary defense, moving the topic from science fiction to reality.
“NASA is home to some of the greatest stories ever told, and with our new streaming platform, NASA+, we’re excited to share these stories and inspire future generations,” said Rebecca Sirmons, General Manager of NASA+. “We’re honored to host a panel at this year’s Sundance to discuss Planetary Defenders and the broader impact of planetary defense.”
The panel, titled You Bet Your Asteroid: NASA Has a Story to Tell, will take place at 1:30 p.m. MST on Sunday, January 26, at the Filmmaker Lodge in the Elks Building in Park City, Utah. The session will feature a discussion of the documentary followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and NASA experts, providing attendees a chance to engage directly with the people working to defend our planet.
Panelists include:
Rebecca Sirmons, Head of NASA+
Scott Bednar, Filmmaker and Director, NASA 360/National Institute of Aerospace
Jessie Wilde, Filmmaker and Director, NASA 360/National Institute of Aerospace
Dr. Kelly Fast, Acting Planetary Defense Officer, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office
David Rankin, Senior Survey Operations Specialist, Catalina Sky Survey
Dr. Vishnu Reddy, Professor of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona
Media are invited to RSVP in advance and can request one-on-one interviews with NASA experts after the panel by contacting Karen Fox at [email protected].
NASA+ continues the agency’s decades-long tradition of delivering live events, original content, and up-to-date news through its free, on-demand streaming service. Available on major platforms, including iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV, NASA+ provides a platform for viewers to explore NASA’s innovations and discoveries for the benefit of all.
For more information on NASA’s planetary defense program, visit NASA’s Planetary Defense Website https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense.
