THE UNFORESEEN International Documentary Competition

If you ever swam at Barton Springs in Austin, Texas, you’d fight to save it too. Laura Dunn’s THE UNFORESEEN is the story of how big developers spoiled a city treasure, and about the consequences continued development has on us all. Austin, the most liberal town in Texas, is known for its hilly landscapes, diverse people and Barton Springs-a favorite spring-fed watering hole. In the ’80s, real estate developer Gary Bradley envisioned grandiose subdivisions that many realized would threaten the water quality of beloved Barton Springs. The “Save our Springs!” movement was born, and Austinites effectively rallied the city council to stop the developers. But with the old Texas land-owners crying foul, it was far from over. When the smoke cleared, the money, power and turning tide of sympathies under new Texas Governor George W. Bush won out, and the developments located upstream from Barton Springs were allowed to proceed. The film is about development vs. environmental stewardship, and it’s not just happening in Austin. A poetic and gorgeous documentary including interviews with Robert Redford, THE UNFORESEEN is a testament to cinematographer Lee Daniels and director Dunn’s labor of love.