The documentary "Sallie's Ashes," which follows the late environmentalist Sarah "Sallie" Smith in her efforts to protect the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, was recently recognized with an award in the nation's capital.

It won the Eric Moe Award for Best Short on Sustainability at the 2026 DCEFF – Environmental Film Festival in Washington, D.C. The 39-minute film, directed by Brennan Robideaux and produced by Daniel Junge and Allison Bohl DeHart, talks about Smith's campaign to address environmental hazards posed by coal ash stored at Alabama Power's Plant Barry, 25 miles north of Mobile Bay.

Smith, who battled terminal lung cancer while leading the effort, co-founded the Coal Ash Action Group with fellow retirees Diane Thomas and Savan Wilson. The group has grown to more than 1,450 subscribers and attracts volunteers advocating for the safe removal of 21 million tons of coal ash from an unlined pit.

"When I see something that's a problem, it tends to call my name," Smith says in the film. "Once it's done that, I need to see it through."

The documentary has received national attention, including a nomination for Best Short Documentary at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.

The DCEFF award recognizes films that showcase solutions for balancing human and environmental needs.

"'Sallie's Ashes' was made as a labor of love, both for the people of Alabama and for a cause that matters deeply to us," Robideaux said. "It's a reminder that the most unlikely voices can carry the greatest weight. Sometimes the fight for the future rests in the hands of those who know they won't live to see it."

The Coal Ash Action Group continues to push for the removal and recycling of coal ash at Plant Barry to prevent a potential catastrophic spill into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, which is considered one of the most ecologically significant river systems in the United States.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.