
For anyone curious about disaster recovery, government mistrust, and what happens when local knowledge collides with federal power.
When a prescribed burn set by the US Forest Service becomes the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, a community is left to reckon with devastating loss and a century of mistrust. Following families and Forest Service crews through the aftermath of disaster, “burn, scar” asks who gets to shape the future of a place, and how community knowledge collides with federal power, disaster recovery, and a climate rapidly changing the terms of survival. -RLW
Director bio:
Hillary Bachelder is an award-winning documentary director, cinematographer, and editor based in New Mexico. "Represent," her critically-acclaimed first feature, screened in over 60 theaters across the country and broadcast nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens in October 2020.
Film Sponsored by:

- Year2026
- Runtime90 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereSouthern US
- DirectorHillary Bachelder
- ProducerSarah Strunin, Sergio Rapu
- CinematographerHillary Bachelder
- EditorHillary Bachelder, Pablo Proenza (consulting)
For anyone curious about disaster recovery, government mistrust, and what happens when local knowledge collides with federal power.
When a prescribed burn set by the US Forest Service becomes the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, a community is left to reckon with devastating loss and a century of mistrust. Following families and Forest Service crews through the aftermath of disaster, “burn, scar” asks who gets to shape the future of a place, and how community knowledge collides with federal power, disaster recovery, and a climate rapidly changing the terms of survival. -RLW
Director bio:
Hillary Bachelder is an award-winning documentary director, cinematographer, and editor based in New Mexico. "Represent," her critically-acclaimed first feature, screened in over 60 theaters across the country and broadcast nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens in October 2020.
Film Sponsored by:

- Year2026
- Runtime90 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereSouthern US
- DirectorHillary Bachelder
- ProducerSarah Strunin, Sergio Rapu
- CinematographerHillary Bachelder
- EditorHillary Bachelder, Pablo Proenza (consulting)