Water and energy are the two fundamental components of a society, and they are interconnected. Thirst for Power, shot on location across France, California, and Texas, explores the history of civilization’s quest to procure abundant water and energy — from ancient Roman aqueducts in Europe to modern America’s vast hydroelectric infrastructure. The film explores our dependence on water for energy as well as vulnerabilities in our current systems. Changing the way we think about water and energy can secure the long-term sustainability of both precious resources.
The documentary is adapted from Dr. Michael E. Webber’s book Thirst for Power: Energy, Water, and Human Survival. Combining anecdotes and personal stories with insights into the latest science of energy and water, both the book and the documentary identify a hopeful path toward wise long-range water-energy decisions and a more reliable and abundant future for humanity.
Thirst for Power is available for live education and industry screenings. To inquire about a screening license or to schedule a screening for your school or company, please contact our team.
Download the free middle-school study guide from Paramount Education.
Mat Hames is an Emmy winning director, writer and producer, known for his two PBS Independent Lens documentaries What Was Ours (2017) and When I Rise (2010) and for his documentary series for Rooster Teeth, RTDocs. His films have screened at SXSW, HotDocs, and on SundanceTV. When I Rise (2010) was nominated for an IDA Award in the category of Best Music Documentary. Hames co-directed Fighting Goliath, narrated and produced by Robert Redford, which aired nationally on SundanceTV and PBS. His directorial debut was Last Best Hope, a film about the Belgian Resistance and escape lines during WWII, for which he was knighted by Belgian King Albert II. He is a co-founder of Austin, Texas based non-fiction production company Alpheus Media.