Over a century ago, a rare ecosystem along the south shore of Lake Michigan collided with the industrial giants that built our nation, paving the way for some of the most influential environmental conflicts of the 20th century. It also encompassed one of the most pressing issues of our time: sustainability.

Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability tells the story of how the diverse ecosystems of the Indiana Dunes, where rare plants grow in the shadows of smokestacks, sparked a movement for a national park – a movement which finally came to fruition in 2019. Along the way it led to game-changing environmental policies with worldwide impact and unique partnerships.

Today, the advocacy from that fight has transformed into a new model of cooperation, one in which industrialists and environmentalists now work together to promote sustainability in and around the Indiana Dunes. This award-winning documentary not only examines the history of this transformation, but encourages the reproduction of it on a global scale – allowing us to maintain our way of life without destroying the natural world on which we all depend.