Doctor Ben Abbott is a BYU Global Ecologist, the Executive Director of Grow The Flow, and a main subject of The Lake documentary that premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The film investigates the ecological collapse of the Great Salt Lake in Utah and the race by scientists and politicians to prevent an "environmental nuclear bomb." Directed by local Utah filmmaker Abby Ellis, it is described as “both terrifying and motivating” and was the recipient of the the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change.
After the honor of hosting the premiere party for The Lake during Sundance, Susan Swartz Studios is proud to continue work with Dr. Abbott and Grow The Flow because of their inclusion of hope while expressing the current state of the Great Salt Lake and the action that must be taken to save it.
The Lake Jury citation: "This environmental crisis story is a probing and provocative look at the interdependency of science and faith and the power of individuals and communities to avert disaster by working together. We were moved and encouraged by its vision of people working across political divides."
