The documentary Forested Future, directed by Petr Krejčí, shows how local communities are leading the way in regenerating the planet’s great forests.
In a world of eight billion people, where the demand for housing and infrastructure continues to grow, architecture remains one of the most environmentally impactful human activities. How, then, can we meet today’s needs without compromising the forests of tomorrow? The documentary Forested Future, by director Petr Krejčí, seeks answers in the Appalachian Mountains, telling the stories of communities working to restore the deep bond we share with nature.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) announces the national premiere of the documentary in Spain, with a screening on November 6, 2025, at Cinemas Girona in Barcelona, as part of the BARQ International Architecture Film Festival. The film follows the people and communities whose lives are intertwined with trees, finding an alternative in traditions of harmonious forest management and in nature’s regenerative power.
Through their voices and practices, this inspiring documentary reveals a model of sustainable forest management based on respect, regeneration, and balance. Their stories show us the path toward an industry that works with nature, not against it — offering not just a material solution, but a vision of hope for a more resilient future.
Its director, Petr Krejčí, is a documentary filmmaker dedicated to exploring the complex relationship between humanity, technology, and the natural world. A graduate of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU), Petr is a constant and curious observer.
As part of the national premiere, renowned architect Alison Brooks, founder and creative director of Alison Brooks Architects and one of the protagonists of the film, will be present at the launch events in Barcelona. Considered one of the most awarded and internationally acclaimed British architects, Brooks is an influential voice in support of sustainable architecture. In addition to contributing to Forested Future, she will present her vision in a lecture titled “An Architecture of Nature”, on November 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., one day before the national film premiere, at IAAC (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia).
Technical Details & Team
- Film title: Forested Future
- Duration: 91 minutes
- Projection format: DCP, 4K, 16:9, 25 fps
- Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Producers: AHEC Europe – David Venables, Rocío Perez-Íñigo, Ellen Powley, Lauren Smith, Zoe Robertson-Tingle, Lucy Peacock, Gabriella Karie; PETR&Co., Petr Krejčí, Karolína Dvorská Fránková
- Script advisors: Fred Pearce, Zdeněk Blaha
- Directors of photography: Šimon Dvořáček, Petr Krejčí
- Editing: Karolína Čejková
- Sound design: Dominik Dolejší, Adam Levý
- Music: Dominik Dolejší, Adam Levý
National Premiere at BARQ Festival
Forested Future – by Petr Krejčí
📅 November 6, 2025 | 6:00–8:15 p.m.
📍 Cinemas Girona, Carrer de Girona 175
🎟 Ticket: €6
Talk: “An Architecture of Nature” – by Alison Brooks
📅 November 5, 2025 | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 IAAC Campus, C/ Pujades 102, 08005 Barcelona
🎟 Free entry with registration
Alison Brooks
Alison Brooks, founder and creative director of Alison Brooks Architects, is one of the most awarded and internationally recognized architects in the United Kingdom. Born in Ontario, Canada, she studied at the University of Waterloo before moving to London in 1988. Since founding her studio in 1996, she has received more than 100 professional accolades. She is the only architect in the UK to have won the three most prestigious awards for built works: the RIBA Stirling Prize, the Manser Medal and the Stephen Lawrence Prize.
Alison Brooks sees architecture as a bridge between cultural memory and the future. Combining the familiar with the experimental, she expresses a deep commitment to meaningful and responsible design. Her work is reflected in projects such as the Cohen Quadrangle at the University of Oxford, the iconic Cadence arched tower in King’s Cross, and The Smile—the world’s first public CLT structure, created for the 2017 London Design Festival in collaboration with AHEC—as well as 44 homes at Ely Court, finalist for the EUmies Awards 2017. She is currently working on major projects in London, Taipei, Oslo and Toronto. Alison has taught postgraduate programs at the Architectural Association (AA), Cornell University and Harvard GSD. Today, she is a visiting professor at ETSAM/University of Madrid, a member of the faculty of the British School at Rome, and on the council of the AA.
BARQ Festival
The BARQ Festival is the only international competitive film festival in Spain dedicated to architecture and design. It is an initiative by Nihao Films, a production company specialized in architectural audiovisual content, in collaboration with the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, Arquin-FAD, the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC), the Arquia Foundation and the ICO Foundation. The BARQ Festival is dedicated to exploring the relationship between cinema and architecture. Cinema uses architecture to depict and create worlds and portray social realities, while architecture uses cinema as a means to reach society at large. With a rich program that includes a selection of national and international documentary films and various parallel activities (talks, debates, workshops, conferences), BARQ offers audiences new perspectives on architectural creativity through film, fostering dialogue between the two arts and encouraging reflection on urban, social and environmental issues.
American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)
For more than three decades, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been the global ambassador of the U.S. hardwood industry, promoting the performance, sustainability and aesthetic potential of American hardwoods around the world.
As the leading international trade association for the North American hardwood sector, AHEC manages a non-profit program representing thousands of companies involved in the production and export of wood—from small family-owned sawmills to major flooring manufacturers. Created to give this diverse industry a unified global voice, AHEC has successfully built an internationally recognized brand, promoted more than 20 commercially available hardwood species and increased their global demand.
