Dr. Chris Elisara
Title of the keynote: “A Story Can Change A City.”
In addition to his roles in CNU and the World Urban Campaign, Dr. Elisara is a co-founder of First + Main Films (https://www.firstmainfilms.com), an award-winning film studio focused on civic storytelling for cities. The studio operates under the guiding principle that “a story can change a city,” aligning with Dr. Elisara’s vision and passion for designing and building cities for human thriving for all.
Expanding on the crucial role of storytelling in city building, First+Main Films established the Better Cities Film Festival (https://www.bettercitiesfilmfestival.com). Founded in 2013 in Hollywood, California, the annual flagship festival moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 2020. In 2024, the festival introduced a regional film festival in Raleigh, North Carolina, called Better Cities Film Festival South. Meanwhile, cities and organizations worldwide are hosting bespoke Better City Film Festival screenings to inspire and catalyze community conversations about their city’s future. In 2020 and 2022 UN-Habitat partnered with First+Main Films to host the UN-Habitat Better Cities Film Festival at the 10th and 11th World Urban Forums. Through all these media platforms, Dr. Elisara underscores the transformative power of narratives in shaping the future of cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
Dr. Elisara was born and raised in New Zealand and traveled to the US for his graduate education, earning an MBA in international business and a Ph.D. in cross-cultural education. He has lived in San Diego for over 25 years with his wife, Tricia, and their two sons. In his free time, Dr. Elisara enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, fly fishing, deep-sea fishing, and playing bluegrass music.