# An Inconvenient Truth

> 2006 film by Davis Guggenheim

**Wikidata**: [Q204670](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204670)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inconvenient_Truth)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/an-inconvenient-truth

## Summary

An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim that presents former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's slide show presentation on climate change and global warming. The film became a critical and commercial success, winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film and significantly raising public awareness about environmental issues. It was produced by Participant, a now-defunct American film production company founded in 2004, and has been followed by a sequel, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, released in 2017.

## Key Facts

- **Title:** An Inconvenient Truth
- **Director:** Davis Guggenheim
- **Release Year:** 2006
- **Production Company:** Participant (defunct American film production company, founded 2004, United States)
- **Film Classification:** Documentary film (nonfictional motion picture)
- **Country of Origin:** United States
- **Alias:** Inconvenient Truth
- **Website:** http://www.takepart.com/an-inconvenient-truth/film
- **Publication Dates:** Multiple theatrical releases throughout 2006 (January 24, May 20, May 24, June 11, June 30, August 31, September 8, September 14, September 15, October 5, October 11, October 12, October 13, October 19, October 26, November 2, November 3, November 9, November 16, November 17, November 23, December 8) and into 2007 (January 10, January 19, January 20, February 2, February 16)
- **Sequel:** An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017), directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk
- **Associated Song:** "I Need to Wake Up" (2006) by Melissa Etheridge
- **Notable Related Person:** Howey Ou (Chinese climate activist)

## FAQs

**What is An Inconvenient Truth about?**

An Inconvenient Truth is a documentary film that features former U.S. Vice President Al Gore presenting his slide show on climate change and global warming. The film combines scientific data with personal appeal to educate audiences about environmental challenges facing the planet.

**Who directed An Inconvenient Truth?**

The film was directed by Davis Guggenheim and released in 2006.

**What awards did An Inconvenient Truth win?**

The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. It also received the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film, the Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary, and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary.

**What company produced An Inconvenient Truth?**

The film was produced by Participant, an American film production company founded in 2004 that is now defunct. The company was headquartered in the United States.

**Is there a sequel to An Inconvenient Truth?**

Yes, there is a sequel titled An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, released in 2017. It was directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk.

**What is the connection between An Inconvenient Truth and the song "I Need to Wake Up"?**

The song "I Need to Wake Up" by Melissa Etheridge, released in 2006, is associated with the film as part of its related content or soundtrack.

## Why It Matters

An Inconvenient Truth represents a landmark moment in environmental advocacy and documentary filmmaking. By bringing climate science to a mainstream audience through the charismatic and relatable figure of Al Gore, the film transformed a complex scientific topic into an accessible and emotionally compelling narrative. Its commercial success demonstrated that environmental issues could resonate with general audiences beyond scientific communities and activist circles.

The film's impact extended beyond box office numbers and award recognition. It played a crucial role in elevating climate change to a prominent position in public discourse during the mid-2000s, influencing public opinion and policy discussions around the world. The Academy Award win for Best Documentary Feature Film lent credibility and visibility to the environmental movement, helping to establish climate change as a mainstream concern.

The documentary also pioneered a new model for advocacy filmmaking, showing how personal narratives combined with scientific evidence could create powerful persuasive content. This approach influenced subsequent documentary filmmaking on environmental and social issues, demonstrating the potential for film to drive social change.

Furthermore, the film's success led to increased attention on Al Gore as an environmental advocate and contributed to his continued work on climate issues, including the later establishment of climate awareness initiatives and the sequel film that addressed both progress made and challenges remaining in the fight against climate change.

## Notable For

- Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature Film (2006)
- First documentary to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song
- Highest-grossing documentary film at the time of its release
- Pioneered the celebrity-driven environmental advocacy documentary format
- Featured Al Gore's comprehensive presentation on climate change, originally developed for congressional briefings
- Received multiple awards from regional film critics associations including the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Central Ohio Film Critics Association, and Chicago Film Critics Association
- Established a template for sequel documentaries addressing ongoing issues (An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, 2017)

## Body

### Production and Development

An Inconvenient Truth was produced by Participant, a now-defunct American film production company founded in 2004 and headquartered in the United States. The company operated in the film industry before ceasing operations. Davis Guggenheim served as the director, crafting the documentary around Al Gore's presentation on climate change that the former Vice President had been delivering for years in various venues, including congressional briefings and educational settings.

The film's production represented a collaboration between environmental advocacy and mainstream filmmaking, bringing together scientific content with cinematic storytelling techniques. The production company Participant was specifically known for producing films with social and environmental themes, making An Inconvenient Truth a natural fit for their portfolio.

### Content and Structure

The documentary centers on Al Gore's multimedia presentation on climate change, featuring slides, graphs, and data visualizations that illustrate the science behind global warming and its potential consequences. The film presents a comprehensive overview of climate change, including historical temperature data, ice core samples, sea level projections, and extreme weather patterns.

The film's structure combines educational content with personal elements, including glimpses into Gore's family life and his personal commitment to environmental causes. This approach humanized the scientific subject matter and made it accessible to general audiences who might not have engaged with climate science through traditional channels.

### Release and Distribution

An Inconvenient Truth was released in 2006 with multiple theatrical releases throughout the year, beginning on January 24, 2006, and continuing through December 8, 2006. The film also had releases in early 2007, extending its theatrical run and allowing it to reach additional audiences. This extended release strategy contributed to its commercial success and cultural impact.

The film's website, hosted at takepart.com/an-inconvenient-truth/film, provided additional resources and information for audiences interested in learning more about climate change and taking action.

### Awards and Recognition

The film received extensive recognition within the film industry, winning several prestigious awards:

The Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film represented the highest honor in documentary filmmaking, validating the film's artistic achievements and its contribution to the documentary form. Additionally, the film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, recognizing excellence in film music.

Among the critics' associations, An Inconvenient Truth received the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film, the Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary, and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary. These awards reflected the film's critical acclaim across different regions and professional organizations.

### Cultural Impact

The release of An Inconvenient Truth coincided with growing public awareness of climate change issues and helped to accelerate environmental consciousness in the mid-2000s. The film reached audiences who might not have previously engaged with environmental topics, expanding the conversation around climate change beyond scientific and activist communities.

The documentary's success demonstrated the potential for film to serve as a vehicle for environmental advocacy, inspiring subsequent documentary projects on climate and environmental issues. It also contributed to Al Gore's continued prominence as an environmental advocate, building on his work as former Vice President and setting the stage for his subsequent climate activism.

### Related Works and Sequels

The film's legacy continued with the release of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power in 2017, directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk. The sequel addressed both progress made in addressing climate change and the challenges that remained, updating audiences on developments in the years since the original film's release.

The film is also associated with the song "I Need to Wake Up" by Melissa Etheridge, released in 2006, which connects to the film's themes of environmental awareness and the need for action on climate issues.

### Notable Connections

The film is connected to Howey Ou, a Chinese climate activist, representing the international reach of the climate change conversation that the documentary helped to advance. This connection illustrates how the film's impact extended beyond the United States to influence global climate discourse and inspire activists worldwide.

### Classification and Context

An Inconvenient Truth falls within the documentary film genre, which encompasses nonfictional motion pictures that document real events, people, or subjects. The film represents a specific subgenre of documentary—the advocacy or issue-oriented documentary—that uses the form to promote a particular cause or viewpoint.

As an American production, the film reflects the United States' role in both filmmaking and environmental policy discussions. The country, established through the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and with independence recognized in 1784, has been a significant player in global environmental conversations, and An Inconvenient Truth contributed to that ongoing dialogue.

## References

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