Pistachio Wars
As Los Angeles burns, everyone wants to know…why do cities in California seem to constantly go up in flames?
Investigative journalist Yasha Levine and filmmaker Rowan Wernham take a road trip into the dark heart of the…
Investigative journalist Yasha Levine and filmmaker Rowan Wernham take a road trip into the dark heart of the…
About the Film
As Los Angeles burns, everyone wants to know…why do cities in California seem to constantly go up in flames?
Investigative journalist Yasha Levine and filmmaker Rowan Wernham take a road trip into the dark heart of the California Dream. They look at the system and the people that have allowed unchecked development to rage across the state, destroying the environment and creating mega-cities and mega-farms.
At the center of their story is Stewart and Lynda Resnick. They’re billionaires. They live in the flashiest mansion in Beverly Hills. And they have a monopoly on the pistachio trade.
With a small clique of powerful farmers and real estate speculators, they’ve taken control of California's water—draining rivers, building plantations in the middle of a desert, leaving a trail of environmental collapse.
Water heists, towns ravaged by drought, farms built on oil fields, mass extinction, suburbs without end, and…war with Iran. Welcome to California.
Investigative journalist Yasha Levine and filmmaker Rowan Wernham take a road trip into the dark heart of the California Dream. They look at the system and the people that have allowed unchecked development to rage across the state, destroying the environment and creating mega-cities and mega-farms.
At the center of their story is Stewart and Lynda Resnick. They’re billionaires. They live in the flashiest mansion in Beverly Hills. And they have a monopoly on the pistachio trade.
With a small clique of powerful farmers and real estate speculators, they’ve taken control of California's water—draining rivers, building plantations in the middle of a desert, leaving a trail of environmental collapse.
Water heists, towns ravaged by drought, farms built on oil fields, mass extinction, suburbs without end, and…war with Iran. Welcome to California.
Title
Pistachio Wars
Release
2025
Runtime
72 min
Rating
NR
Genre
Documentary
Directors
Yasha Levine, Rowan Wernham
Origin
New Zealand
Language
English
New Zealand
English
Reviews
Plays like a Chinatown for the age of global warming — complete with mystery, political corruption and at the center of it, the question we've confronted since civilization began: who gets the water?
Creative Team
Creative Team
Director
Yasha Levine
Director
Rowan Wernham
Composer
Maxwell Scott
Editor
Adam-Luka Turjak
Offer Streaming as a Video on Demand Partner
Elevate your impact by becoming a partner and supporting quality storytelling while expanding your revenue.
1. Sign Up
Create your account in minutes. It's quick and easy!
2. Get Your Link
Receive your unique customizable Video On Demand page that tracks all viewings generated through your efforts.
3. Promote!
Share your link on social media, blogs, websites, newsletters – wherever your audience engages.
4. Generate Revenue
Start earning as your audience watches Pistachio Wars. Track your results in real-time.
Non-Theatrical
Purchase a community screening license to show the film anywhere, anytime -- or use Gathr’s Virtual Event Cinema. Add a charity from our database of all 2 million official US charities to create a fundraiser. Book Talent associated with the movie to program your post screening panel discussion. Search our platform for a venue, or add your own.
1. Request the Film
Provide your screening details on a straightforward request form. Utilize standard ticketing or host an Events on Demand™ film screening. Learn more
2. Confirm the Film
Once your film responds, review the booking terms, then confirm your booking - some films confirm instantly.
3. Screen your Film
Leverage Gathr's complete event management suite to handle ticketing, event reminders, product sales, film playback and more.
Non-Theatrical
Purchase a community screening license to show the film anywhere, anytime -- or use Gathr’s Virtual Event Cinema. Add a charity from our database of all 2 million official US charities to create a fundraiser. Book Talent associated with the movie to program your post screening panel discussion. Search our platform for a venue, or add your own.
Request Screening
1. Request the Film
Provide your screening details on a straightforward request form. Utilize standard ticketing or host an Events on Demand™ film screening. Learn more
2. Confirm the Film
Once your film responds, review the booking terms, then confirm your booking - some films confirm instantly.
3. Screen your Film
Leverage Gathr's complete event management suite to handle ticketing, event reminders, product sales, film playback and more.
Are we able to screen the Film at a non-theatrical Venue such as a community center or church?
Absolutely! We can send you the correct format to screen the Film wherever the Screening happens to be.
Are we able to screen the Film in school for educational purposes?
Yes! Please email [email protected] to inquire about special educational licenses and pricing.
What formats are you able to provide?
We generally have the films available in DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital format. Please email [email protected] if you have questions about a specific format.
How much do the licenses cost?
Prices may vary depending on size of the audience, whether or not tickets are sold, etc. Please email [email protected] with any specific pricing questions.
Are we able to view the Film before we commit to the license?
Some Films are available for a preview before the license is purchased. However it is up to the filmmaker to decide if a preview is available. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in a preview link.
Bring this film to a theatre near you
Independent films don’t have the support of big production companies to get their films in all of the movie theaters. But, using Theatrical On Demand®, you can bring their film to a theater near you. All you have to do is find a theater, request the film, and if enough people commit to buying tickets, the movie will be screened at your theater.Learn more about Theatrical on Demand®
1. Find a Theater Near You
Take advantage of Gathr's vast theatrical network and choose your preferred theatre.
2. Request the Film
Create and send your inquiry in minutes.
3. Tell Your Friends
Leverage your community to generate reservations and cover (and exceed) your minimum threshold.
1. Find a Theater Near You
Take advantage of Gathr's vast theatrical network and choose your preferred theatre.
2. Request the Film
Create and send your inquiry in minutes.
3. Tell Your Friends
Leverage your community to generate reservations and cover (and exceed) your minimum threshold.
I'd like to Host my Screening at my local cinema, but I'm not seeing it on the Screening request form. Can I still screen there?
We are generally able to screen at most Venues, and add Venues to our network. Please email [email protected] with the info on the cinema, and we will reach out to them.
I'm not going to reach the minimum tickets by the expiration date. Can I move the expiration date out?
We generally are not able to move the expiration date because we need to give the theater time to book the screening, assign an auditorium, receive the content, etc. That being said, we can certainly move out the Event date which will automatically move the expiration date as well.
My tipping point is so high, can I lower it?
The tipping point is based on the amount it costs to rent out the theater for a screening. These rates are set by the theater, so we are generally not able to lower this number.
I found a different theater where I would rather Host my Event, can I move it?
Yes, please email [email protected] and we can assist you with moving your screening to a new location.
My Event is almost sold out, can we book a second auditorium for the same date, Venue, and time?
Theaters generally do not like booking 2 screens for Gathr events on the same evening. If your Event is close to selling out, please email [email protected], and we will reach out to the theater in order to move to a larger auditorium to accommodate all of your guests.
Powered by GATHR®
