Virginia Film Festival

For many years, Minden, West Virginia, has deteriorated into toxic decay due to the pervasive presence of carcinogenic PCBs. Once a thriving coal company town, Minden’s residents now face a cancer rate that is four times higher than the national average, and their concerns are often dismissed by officials.

Impossible Town delves into loss, grief, and environmental injustice in rural Appalachia, with a specific focus on Dr. Ayne Amjad’s pivotal role in a decades-long struggle to help her community survive in a town that has become nearly uninhabitable. Driven by her late father’s unwavering commitment to helping others at any cost, Ayne finds herself torn between her desire to start a family in Minden and her audacious plan to relocate the town and honor her father’s legacy by bringing closure to his work. 

Introduction by Dr. Rajesh Balkrishnan (UVA Health).

Discussion with co-director Scott Faris. Moderated by screen and stage writer Nayna Agrawal.