Chocolates Melting Away
In 2024, filmmaker Breech Asher Harani was awarded the Climate and Labour Film Grant, a collaboration between One World Media, the Pulitzer Center, and the Financial Times, for his proposed documentary on the challenges facing cocoa farming and its future in Davao, Philippines. Through his lens, we see not only the challenges brought by a warming planet but also the resilience and innovation of a community fighting to protect their way of life.
Now, we are proud to launch the completed film Chocolates Melting Away, sharing Breech’s story with the world. His documentary offers an urgent, intimate, and hopeful portrait of a community navigating the frontlines of climate change.
For Breech, this project was never just a film. It was a return to his roots.
“I’ve been a cocoa drinker since I was a child,” he shares. “My late grandmother used to make cacao tablea by hand from the cacao trees in her backyard. So my love for cacao goes way back, along with the great memories that come with it.”
But in recent years, Breech noticed a shift. Climate change was forcing local cacao farmers in Davao to adapt. While some began replacing their crops with bananas, others chose to persist with cacao – strengthening their plantations’ resilience through nature-based solutions.
“I was inspired to tell this story because I wanted to show not only the challenges but the solutions to address them,” he explains. “Yes, the problems are real, but that doesn’t mean we ignore them. As humans, we are meant to survive and to find ways to keep going.”
Breech’s commitment to climate storytelling was shaped by a devastating personal experience.
“In 2012, my hometown in Davao De Oro was hit by a category 5 super typhoon. We lost our homes, and many of our neighbours were missing or died. That was really my first introduction to the climate crisis.”
Since then, he has used his creative work to explore how climate change impacts not just the environment, but society, culture, and human rights. His film on cacao farming is a continuation of that journey and a reminder that climate change affects the everyday lives of workers and families around the world.
“This story rests on the many workers that depend on the cacao and chocolate industry,” he says. “It made me realise that there’s still so much more work to do and so many stories like this that need to be told.”
While the film resonates with broad audiences, Breech has a clear goal in mind: to reach and inspire young people.
“The youth will be the leaders and policymakers of the future. It’s important that, even while they’re still young, they understand what’s happening around us and feel inspired to take action.”
Winning the Climate and Labour Film Grant was a milestone for Breech Asher Harani and a powerful affirmation of his creative path.
“Honestly, I thought the grant was going to several recipients,” he laughs. “When they announced I got it, just me, I was shocked. Of all the applications around the world, my story was chosen.”
“It was such a proud moment. I sometimes doubt myself and question whether I can take on such a challenging project, but this opportunity validated my capabilities and talents in film and storytelling. It gave me a new level of confidence and perseverance to keep going.”
As he reflects on the journey so far, Breech remains grounded in his purpose: to keep creating, keep educating, and keep telling stories that matter.
“My hope for the future is to continue doing what I love, using my skills to educate, inspire, and support people, communities, and the environment. Nothing is more freeing than continuing to tell stories while contributing to the collective conversation and action toward a better world.”