Groundswell won this year’s Golden Globes Prize for Documentary in Partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation at the Cannes Film Festival. The award was announced last night at a festival event. Directors Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Tickell shared the award for their film about climate activists and the movement for carbon sequestration in the fight to correct climate change. The Tickells were also recognized for “their longstanding contributions to documentary storytelling and distinctive artistic voice.” The award carries a purse of €10,000, courtesy of the Artemis Rising Foundation.
The Tickells previously tackled issues of climate change in documentaries like Common Ground (2023) and Kiss the Ground (2020), both about regenerative practices in agriculture. Their films frequently harness the power of celebrity activists as A-listers use their platforms to advocate for the environment. Notable participants in Groundswell include Demi Moore, Prince William, and Woody Harrelson.
“In a world where hope feels audacious, Joshua and Rebecca Tickell shine out for their dedication to telling stories that draw audiences in and inspire us with real solutions,” noted the jury in a statement. “Their films consistently match an artist’s vision with a passionate heart for the next generations. Their impressive track record of creative work connects us more deeply to the world around us, and points consistently to the urgent questions shaping our collective future.”
This year’s jury included Golden Globes President, Helen Hoehne; producer and Founder of Artemis Rising Foundation, Regina K. Scully; producer and Co-Founder of Impact Partners, Geralyn White Dreyfous; Founder and CEO of Think-Film Impact Production, Danielle Turkov Wilson; and actor and producer Kelvin Harrison Jr., who presented the prize to the Tickells at the event.
“Documentary is a genre with incredible staying power, and one that is accelerating. It is such an honour to receive this award – this is an exceptional moment where, as the world gets worse, people are more interested in solving the environmental crisis,” said Joshua Tickell upon accepting the award.
“This is the most important issue of our time. Stabilizing the climate needs to be our number one agenda, and storytelling for us is the way to do that – because storytelling shapes our live,” added Rebecca Tickell. “This film is not just a story, it is a mission. The future belongs to the next generation, we made this film for them.” The Tickells’ daughter Athena was present at the event and noted that the family all contracted Typhoid during production, “but it was worth it.”
Groundswell marked the second year that the Golden Globes Prize for Documentary in Partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation was presented in order to recognize the art of non-fiction. Last year’s festival saw Eugene Jarecki take home the prize for his Julian Assange doc The Six Billion Dollar Man. The partnership also recognized documentary at the 2025 Venice Film Festival where Ross McElwee’s Remake won the award.
“We are thrilled to be highlighting the Golden Globes’ and Artemis Rising Foundation’s shared commitment to elevating documentary storytelling on a global stage with this prize,” said Hoehne in a statement. “Audiences today need and are looking for stories with truth and meaning, and documentaries are a vital form of film.”
