Altadena Documentary on the Eaton Fire Recovery Enters Post-Production

A new documentary about the rebuilding of Altadena, California, is in post-production, and its makers are still weighing how it will reach viewers. The film, Altadena: One Fire After Another, was created by climate journalist Bill McKibben and David Gelber, an executive producer and former 60 Minutes producer, Variety reported on 27 October 2026.

Post-production is the stage after filming, when footage is edited, sound is mixed and the final cut is put together. Distribution is the way a finished film gets to audiences, whether through a broadcaster, a streaming service or a cinema. The filmmakers are evaluating their distribution options, according to the same report.

The film looks at the aftermath of the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. It follows residents of Altadena as they rebuild their homes, hold on to their community and work through recovery. Jonathan Scheinberg produced and directed the film. Vanessa Gould produced and edited it.

Alongside interviews with Altadena residents, the documentary includes conversations with experts on climate, economics and public policy. That mix moves between the daily work of rebuilding a single house and the larger questions facing any town that has to recover from a disaster.

NPR, drawing on first-responder radio traffic, reported that live power lines sparked new fires after the Eaton Fire began. The same radio traffic, according to NPR, showed that the power company in Altadena was slow to respond to Eaton firefighters.

For the residents at the centre of the film, the rebuild is still under way. For viewers, the next question is when and where the finished film will appear, and that has not yet been settled.