Under Review is an environmental dance film series that brings awareness to the public lands threatened to be open for industrial development (drilling, mining, logging). The second film in the series, Under Review: Katahdin follows a who spends his days amongst the trees. boy grows up spending his days amongst the trees. Through his daily visits of climbing, playing, and swinging from branches, he develops a loving friendship with the tree and her saplings. But, the boy grows up. His visits become few and far between and he loses his affection for the natural world. He follows his lineage into the field of logging; therefore he must choose between protecting or slaughtering his beloved family of trees. Under Review: Katahdin tells the heart-wrenching story of our evolving relationship with trees.

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Kelly Ashton Todd is a director, choreographer, performing artist, and environmental activist who makes work for both live theater and film. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is originally from Lake Jackson, TX, where she began her passion for the environment from being surrounded by live oak trees, the beloved creek, and blue crabs along the jetties. Her work explores land and human exploitation, environmental politics, and surrealism. 

She received a BFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University and a Double Minor in Biology and Environmental Science (2011) along with a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University (2021). Kelly performed with the off-Broadway show Sleep No More from 2015-2022. She graduated from the William Esper Acting Studio in 2023.

Kelly’s creations have been showcased globally. She has presented work at the Kaufman Hall at the 92nd St Y, Pioneer Works, Dixon Place, NOoSPHERE Arts, ‘T’ Space Rhinebeck, Usine C, and Meow Wolf Santa Fe. She has been awarded the Brooklyn Arts Council Grant (2019, 2020, and 2022), Jerome Hill Foundation Finalist, F21 NYSCA in Media Grant, Puffin Foundation Grant, LEIMAY Fellowship, Human Impacts Institute Environmental Health Fellowship, NYFA Fellowship in Choreography, Emerging Choreographer for Springboard Danse Montreal 2022, and the Baryshnikov Artist Residency in 2023. She was a panelist for the United Nations in 2023 where she shared her creations and spoke to the intersection of climate change, female empowerment, and technology. Her award-winning environmental dance film series, Under Review, has attended over 20 film festivals nationally and internationally.