Degree of Certainty

A 2025 AFI Conservatory Thesis Film

a small group of people had the chance to save the world.

and created the massive environmental and misinformation crisis we live in today.

Story

In the early 1980s, during a major oil glut, young risk analyst Jackson Miller finds himself on shaky ground at APEX, a leading US oil company. With the company’s profits plummeting, Jackson fears for his job, but a discovery by the climate research division offers him a chance to prove his worth. Armed with alarming data about the impact of fossil fuel combustion on global temperatures, Jackson crafts a comprehensive report, hoping to secure his place at APEX. However, what starts as a bid for survival turns into something far more dangerous when his report is used to fuel a climate denial campaign. As the stakes rise, Jackson is forced to confront a moral crossroads—will he fight for the truth or become complicit in a campaign that could shape the future of the planet?

Our Team

Simon Schneider

Director & Writer

Lia Kulakauskas

Co-writer

Maxwell Kagan

Producer

Eliot Grigo

Cinematographer

Jason Luo

Editor

American Film Institute Conservatory