PROGRAM
N O V. 2 9 T H — D E C . 1 S T
TICKETS D AY D AY D AY D AY
1 2 3 4
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H T T P S : / / W W W. T I C K E T S O U R C E . C O . U K / D E P T F O R D C I N E M A / T - X X L J V M H T T P S : / / W W W. T I C K E T S O U R C E . C O . U K / D E P T F O R D C I N E M A / T - X X L J D M H T T P S : / / W W W. T I C K E T S O U R C E . C O . U K / D E P T F O R D C I N E M A / T - G G O E L P H T T P S : / / W W W. T I C K E T S O U R C E . C O . U K / D E P T F O R D C I N E M A / T - Z D M J O V
DAY 1 WE ARE ALL CONNECTED 19:00 - PLANETARY 20:45 - THE HUMAN ELEMENT
DAY 2 THE FRONTLINE 18:45 - ANOTE’S ARK + GUEST SPEAKER : CLIMATE ACTION LEWISHAM 21:00 - HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD
DAY 3 THE BIGGER PICTURE THE POLITICS OF POLLUTION : 14:00 - COWSPIRACY 15:45 - PARIS TO PITTSBURGH A WEB OF CONNECTIONS : 17:30 - THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES 19:15 - THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING + GUEST SPEAKER : EXTINCTION REBELLION
DAY 4 ROUTES TO ACTION CREATIVE SOLUTIONS : 12:30 - RACING EXTINCTION 14:20 - TOMORROW DIRECT ACTION : 16:45 - HOW TO START A REVOLUTION + GUEST PANEL 19:30 - HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD
INTRO 2019 has seen a cultural awakening in the recognition of the Climate Crisis and its urgency. The issue is now reaching people outside of the sphere of traditional environmentalists, captivating people around the globe. The Climate Crisis Film Festival brings together some of the best documentaries on the subject, set over four thematic days, featuring 12 films interspersed with guest speakers. The themes over the four days unpack this multi-faceted subject from different perspectives – global to local, economic to ethical, holistic and specific. In the end, we learn how the empowerment of knowledge coupled with the will to act collectively can be a catalyst for rapid change. The film festival kicks off on Thursday 28th November, exploring the idea that WE ARE ALL CONNECTED. We screen two visually arresting films that look at how mankind and nature are inextricably linked. On Friday, the festival zeros into THE FRONTLINE, showing two films that engage with the communities living and fighting on the frontline of the climate emergency. In between films, a guest speaker from Climate Action Lewisham will be talking about how you can get involved with climate action in your local community. Having seen how the crisis is affecting people on the ground, on Saturday the festival takes a step back to look at THE BIGGER PICTURE. We explore two themes: THE POLITICS OF POLLUTION, an insightful exploration of how economic imperatives play a central role in the inaction surrounding the Climate Crisis — and how the political status quo helps cover it up. And; A WEB OF CONNECTIONS, a double-bill
which highlights how the Climate Crisis won’t only affect the nature around us, but also the nature of our relationships with one another. The poorest in the world will be the first to be hit by a crisis they had no responsibility in creating — an ethical dilemma for the West, but also a major issue for global security. Following up from the last film of the day, a guest speaker from Extinction Rebellion will give their answers to the question of how to tackle the crisis headon. After showcasing the Climate Crisis in all its complexity, on Sunday we ask what the best ROUTES TO ACTION could be. The first double bill explores CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, as we screen two films that look to outof-the-box thinking in how we transform ourselves, our society and our engagement to respond positively to the doom-and-gloom of climate change. Then, we turn to DIRECT ACTION with two films looking at activism and the tools that might help us take the first step towards active engagement and civil disobedience. ollowing the screening of the first of these two films, HOW TO START A REVOLUTION, a guest panel comprising director Ruaridh Arrow, conservation biologist and activist Dr. Charlie Gardner, and an Extinction Rebellion representative, will discuss how tactics of non-violent revolution are being adapted for use by climate activists. The festival will take place at The Deptford Cinema, an award-winning not-for-profit community project run by volunteers. Renowned for its intimate setting, wellcurated program and community feel, the cinema stays accessible to the whole community by charging around half the price of most London cinemas. We hope to see you there!
P L A N E TA RY
D E E P LY M O V I N G — THE GUARDIAN
THURSDAY 28 TH 19:00 • DIR. Guy Reid + Steve Watts Kennedy • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 25m
PLANETARY is a stunning cross-continental cinematic journey that explores our cosmic origins and our future as a species. It is a poetic and humbling reminder that now is the time to shift our perspective. In a breathtaking visual exploration, the film interweaves imagery from NASA Apollo missions with visions of the Milky Way, Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas, and the cacophonous sounds of downtown Tokyo and Manhattan. The film takes us from one of the truly extraordinary events of our civilisation – space travel – and looks at how this gave us a totally different perspective on the Earth. Through interviews from renowned experts, including astronauts Ron Garan and Mae Jemison (the first African American woman in space), celebrated environmentalist Bill McKibben, National Book Award winner Barry Lopez, anthropologist Wade Davis, and National Geographic Explorer Elizabeth Lindsey, PLANETARY sheds new light on the ways our worldview is profoundly affecting life on our planet. We have forgotten the undeniable truth that everything is connected.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT
THE HUMAN ELEMENT C O U L D M A K E C OA L E X E C S CARE ABOUT THE PLANET — OUTSIDE
THURSDAY 28 TH 20:45 • DIR. Matthew Testa + James Balog • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 16m
Renowned National Geographic photographer James Balog (the lens behind CHASING ICE) shows viewers why we, as a society, can no longer turn a blind eye to the drastically changing world around us. In The Human Element, his photography is framed through the four ancient elements: earth, air, fire and water. People, Balog suggests, are a fifth element — a force of nature, too. People are driving climate change and, in turn, our lives are being altered by it. No element can exist in isolation — when one is imbalanced, it causes a chain reaction.
Rather than featuring primarily scientists,
THE HUMAN ELEMENT focuses instead on relatable everyday people being affected by the changing planet: firefighters, fishermen, coal miners. But it tells a powerful story that puts the focus on climate change where it should benot as an environmental issue only, but a human one.
T H I S F I L M A I M S D I R E C T LY F O R T H E G U T BY P U T T I N G A H U M A N FA C E O N T H E I M PA C T S . — SCIENCE NEWS
ANOTE’S ARK
ANOTE’S ARK DOES I N D E E D TA C K L E T H E S U B J E C T O F C L I M AT E CHANGE, BUT INSTEAD OF T H R O W I N G E N D L E S S FA C T S A N D F I G U R E S AT T H E AUDIENCE, IT FOCUSES ON A R E A L - WO R L D S I T U AT I O N T H AT C A N B E W I T N E S S E D R I G H T N O W. — FILM PULSE
A SOBERING REALITY CHECK — H O L LY WO O D REPORTER
FRIDAY 29 TH 18:45 • DIR. Matthieu Rytz • COUNTRY. Canada • RUN-TIME. 1h 17m
What if your country was swallowed by the sea? The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati is one of the most remote places on the planet, seemingly far-removed from the pressures of modern life. Yet it is one of the first countries that must confront the main existential dilemma of our time: imminent annihilation from sealevel rise. Set against the backdrop of international climate and human rights negotiations, ANOTE’S ARK follows Kiribati’s President, Anote Tong, racing to find a way to protect Kiribati’s people and maintain their dignity. Anote’s struggle to save his homeland is intertwined with the extraordinary fate of Tiemeri, a young mother of six, who fights to migrate her family to New Zealand. At stake is the survival of Tiemeri’s family, the Kiribati people, and 4,000 years of Kiribati culture.
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GUEST SPEAKER CLIMATE ACTION LEWISHAM
C L I M AT E A C T I O N LEWISHAM
FRIDAY 29 TH 20:05 After scenes of climate struggle, we have a fitting guest speaker from local activists
CLIMATE ACTION LEWISHAM, who will be talking about how you can get involved on a local level. Climate Action Lewisham are a local grassroots organisation based in Crofton Park. They support and generate initiatives that reduce our collective greenhouse gas emissions and create thriving sustainable neighbourhoods in the face of ecological crisis. They supported and stimulated the process of Lewisham’s Declaration of Climate Emergency, and work with local communities and the council to try and push forward change at the community, local government and government level. They have lobbied Vicky Foxcroft, the local MP, organise regular local events for the community such as bike fixes, car-free day and local litter picks, and communicate across the community to raise awareness and support the unfurling of a new human story for this area.
GUEST SPEAKER ADMISSION WITH TICKET TO ANOTE’S ARK
H OW T O L E T G O O F T H E WO R L D
TOUGH. AS IN, TOUGH TO WAT C H . T O U G H T O C O N S I D E R . TOUGH TO IGNORE. — THE NY TIMES
FRIDAY 29 TH 21:00 • DIR. Josh Fox • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 2h 07m
In HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD
(AND LOVE ALL THE THINGS CLIMATE CAN’T CHANGE), Oscarnominated director Josh Fox (GASLAND) continues investigating climate change in his deeply personal style. Traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, the film acknowledges that it may be too late to stop some of the worst consequences and asks: what is it that climate change can’t destroy? What is so deep within us that no calamity can take it away? After admitting that he is resigned to pure hopelessness, Fox suddenly shifts tactics, seeking out ground-level activists around the world who have come up with local solutions to climate problems. “I needed to find the people who’d found this place, this place of despair, and gotten back up,” he narrates.
AN ENERGETIC AND P O S I T I V E S T O RY A B O U T AC T I O N S R E A L P E O P L E C A N TA K E T O E N G A G E I N T H I S I M P O R TA N T I S S U E . — S A LT L A K E T R I B U N E
C OW S P I R A C Y
A D O C U M E N TA RY T H AT W I L L ROCK AND INSPIRE THE E N V I R O N M E N TA L M O V E M E N T . ” — D A R R E N A R O N O F S K Y, D I R E C T O R O F B L A C K S WA N & REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
C OW S P I R AC Y I S A D O C U M E N TA RY T H AT W I L L L E AV E YO U F O R E V E R C H A N G E D . — GLOBAL CITIZEN
SATURDAY 30 TH 14:00 • DIR. Kip Andersen + Keegan Kuhn • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 30m
COWSPIRACY: THE SUSTAINABILITY SECRET is a groundbreaking documentary investigating why the world’s leading environmental organisations are too afraid to talk about the destruction caused by industrialised farming. This shocking yet humorous documentary reveals the absolutely devastating environmental impact large-scale animal farming has on our planet and offers a path to global sustainability for a growing population. Most importantly, the film highlights how big industry interests (and, by extension, the economic system we all partake in) are the driving force behind this crisis — and the reason behind the lack of political will to take it on.
PA R I S T O PITTSBURGH
PA R I S T O P I T T S B U R G H I S A V I S U A L T E S TA M E N T T O HORROR AND HOPE. — INVERSE
T H I S F I L M S E RV E S A S A C O M P E L L I N G C A L L TO AC T I O N A N D A P E R S UA S I V E R E B U T TA L T O T H E I D E A T H AT S AV I N G T H E E N V I R O N M E N T M E A N S S A C R I F I C I N G T H E E C O N O M Y. — P H Y S I C S T O D AY
SATURDAY 30 TH 15:45 • DIR. Sidney Beaumont + Michael Bonfiglio • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 17m • FREE SCREENING
With the declaration that he had been “elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” Trump announced that the U.S. was exiting from the Paris Agreement. The remark shocked and infuriated Pittsburgh’s mayor, Bill Peduto. His rebuttal consisted of leading Pittsburgh on an ambitious charge toward 100% renewable energy by 2030.
PARIS TO PITTSBURGH, a documentary distributed by National Geographic, highlights how the economic viability of renewable energy is now an indisputable fact. It also celebrates how Americans all over the country aren’t waiting on Washington to act and are developing real solutions to climate change themselves.
THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES
THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES IS A FILM PEOPLE SHOULD SEE – E S P E C I A L LY T H O S E W H O WA N T A G R E E N S H I F T B U T O N LY I F I T D O E S NOT COST THEM ANYTHING. THE F I L M E X P L A I N S T H AT S U C H F O R M S O F I N A C T I O N A R E I N T H E M S E LV E S A C T I O N — W I T H P O T E N T I A L LY S E R I O U S CONSEQUENCES. — MODERN TIME
SATURDAY 30 TH 17:30 • DIR. Jared P. Scott • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 20m
THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES is the Emmy-nominated investigation on how climate change impacts resource scarcity, migration and conflict across the globe. Through the lens of US national security and global stability, it lays bare how climate change interacts with other socio-political factors to exacerbate societal tensions, sparking conflict. The film makes the compelling case that if we go on with “business as usual,” waves of refugees, social unrest, and failed states will grow in frequency and scale. As in any security strategy, time is our most precious resource.
A S TA R K WA R N I N G . — B B C WO R L D N E W S
THIS CHANGES E V E RY T H I N G
I F YO U C A R E A B O U T J U S T I C E YO U M U S T S E E T H I S . — KUMI NAIDOO, FORMER D I R E C T O R AT G R E E N P E A C E
SATURDAY 30 TH 19:15 • DIR. Avi Lewis; narrated by Naomi Klein • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 30m
What if confronting the climate crisis is the best chance we’ll ever get to build a better world? Based on the movement-defining book THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING: CAPITALISM VS. THE CLIMATE by Naomi Klein, the film builds to a provocative and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform the failed system of consumer capitalism into something radically better.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING will leave you reflecting on the socio-political system we live in, the kind of lives we really want, and why the climate crisis is at the centre of it all.
+ GUEST SPEAKER EXTINCTION REBELLION
N AO M I K L E I N A P P L I E S H E R F I N E , FIERCE, AND METICULOUS MIND T O T H E G R E AT E S T , M O S T U R G E N T QUESTIONS OF OUR TIMES. HER WO R K H A S C H A N G E D T H E T E R M S O F T H E D E B AT E . I C O U N T H E R A M O N G T H E M O S T I N S P I R AT I O N A L P O L I T I C A L T H I N K E R S I N T H E WO R L D T O D AY. — A R U N D H AT I R OY, A U T H O R O F C A P I TA L I S M : A G H O S T S T O RY
EXTINCTION REBELLION
SATURDAY 30 TH 21:00 EXTINCTION REBELLION describe themselves as an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse. Their actions in 2018 and 2019 have taken the world by storm, inciting society to participate in environmental action on an unprecedented scale. Like most groups enacting civil disobedience, XR has not been without controversy, but their actions are without a doubt making an impact. Following the 2019 ‘Spring Rebellion’, the British government implemented a key demand and finally declared a Climate Emergency – whilst this does not legally bind the government to act, it is a signal that with increasing numbers, they may eventually listen. As an apt following up to our screening of This Changes Everything, we have an Extinction Rebellion guest speaker who will be speaking about direct action in a talk entitled “Climate Change: Heading for Extinction and What to Do About It..
GUEST SPEAKER ADMISSION WITH TICKET TO THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
R AC I N G EXTINCTION
A M E S M E R I C E N T E R TA I N M E N T A N D E N L I G H T E N M E N T, R A C I N G E X T I N C T I O N J O LT E D A S U N DA N C E AU D I E N C E TO E C S TAT I C A P P R E C I AT I O N . — H O L LY WO O D R E P O R T E R
E V E RY B O DY O N O U R T E A M H A S B E E N A B L E T O A DA P T T H E I R TA L E N T T O T H I S B I G G E R C A U S E . I T D O E S A N ’ T M AT T E R W H O YO U A R E — E V E RY B O D Y H A S T H E P OW E R T O U S E T H E I R S K I L L S T O S O LV E T H I S B I G G E R I S S U E . — L O U I E P S I H OYO S
SUNDAY 1 ST 13:30 • DIR. Louie Psihoyos • COUNTRY. USA • RUN-TIME. 1h 34m
Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos (THE COVE) assembles a team of artists and activists intent on exposing the black market of endangered animals trading and the mass extinction it causes. Their idea is simple but impactful: projecting never-seen-before images on huge buildings all over the world to shock and move people in the street. This documentary is not just educational, factual (and enraging) — but also poignant, exciting and even beautiful. We see one man projecting images of whales on a giant screen outside a trendy restaurant that is serving whale sushi off the menu (and eventually gets the restaurant to close down). We see activists projecting images of endangered species directly onto the corporate headquarters of companies whose actions are endangering those very creatures.
RACING EXTINCTION makes the point that the race to stop the 6th mass extinction is not over and there are many things to be done on many fronts, using the diverse skills of many people, be they artists or scientists or fundraisers to make a difference.
T O M O R R OW
WITHOUT QUESTION, THIS IS A B S O L U T E LY T H E B E S T A N D M O S T C R E AT I V E F I L M O N T H E FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE E N V I RO N M E N T. — PA U L H AW K E N , E N V I R O N M E N TA L I S T & ENTREPRENEUR
SUNDAY 1 ST 15:20 • DIR. Cyril Dion + Melanie Laurent • COUNTRY. France • RUN-TIME. 1h 58m
TOMORROW sets out to showcase alternative and creative ways of viewing agriculture, economics, energy and education. Actress Melanie Laurent (INGLORIOUS BASTERDS) and activist Cyril Dion travel around the world in search of constructive solutions to act on a local level to make a difference on a global scale. A hugely positive, life-affirming and inspirational film, TOMORROW takes a close look at permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects, community-owned renewable projects, local currencies, creative schools, and ambitious recycling projects. TOMORROW is the perfect antidote to post-Trump despondency. It’s a fantastic showcase for transitionthinking and where it could go.
A F O R WA R D - T H I N K I N G TA K E O N ADDRESSING THE DEMISE OF T H E H U M A N R AC E , T H E F R E N C H D O C U M E N TA RY T O M O R R OW S WA P S T H E U S U A L H A N DW R I N G I N G D O O M S D AY P R O P H E S I Z I N G I N FAV O R O F A D E C I D E D LY M O R E P ROAC T I V E A P P ROAC H . — LOS ANGELES TIMES
H OW T O S TA R T A R E VO L U T I O N
W H E N YO U L O O K AT T H E T H E O R I E S O F N O N - V I O L E N T P R O T E S T , PA R T I C U L A R LY THE 198 NON-VIOLENT WEAPONS, THOSE ARE THE ABSOLUTE LIFEBLOOD OF EXTINCTION REBELLION. — XR SPOKESPERSON
A WO R L D - C O N Q U E R I N G B R I T I S H D O C U M E N TA R Y — T H E D A I LY T E L E G R A P H
SUNDAY 1 ST 20:00 • DIR. Ruaridh Arrow • COUNTRY. UK • RUN-TIME. 1h 20m
HOW TO START A REVOLUTION is a BAFTA-winning documentary profiling the ideas and impact of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Gene Sharp — the world’s leading expert on non-violent system change. Sharp hardly seems like one of the world’s most dangerous men. From his modest home in Boston, the elderly university professor grows rare orchids – and inspires revolutions. His writings are credited with providing the blueprint for the overthrow of governments in Serbia, Ukraine, Guatemala, Indonesia and the Arab world. In this fascinating documentary, director Ruaridh Arrow digs deeper into the impact of this scholar who has been described as ‘the Machiavelli of non-violent warfare.’ Sharp’s book FROM DICTATORSHIP TO DEMOCRACY, listing 198 ‘weapons’ of direct action, has become the standard manual for rebel groups — now including Occupy Wall Street and Extinction Rebellion. By showing the sheer force of non-violent people power, this film can inspire future movements to develop effective strategies for non-violent system change in the face of apparently overwhelming odds.
+ GUEST PANEL RUARIDH ARROW DR. CHARLIE GARDNER EXTINCTION REBELLION
PA N E L DISCUSSION
SUNDAY 1 ST 18:15 As part of our DIRECT ACTION double bill, we have an amazing guest panel to follow up HOW TO START A REVOLUTION. R U A R I D H A R R OW is a BBC journalist and director of HOW TO START A REVOLUTION. He holds an extensive insight into the work of Gene Sharp, the world’s leading expert on non-violent system change. D R . C H A R L I E G A R D N E R is an interdisciplinary conservationist and conservation scientist at The University of Kent. He has published several articles – in publications such as The Guardian and Nature, calling on fellow scientists to take action and join acts of non-violent civil disobedience. E X T I N C T I O N R E B E L L I O N is an international movement that uses non-violent direct action on a mass scale to put pressure on governments to take action against the climate emergency. We will be hosting an XR representative on our panel where we will discuss how the teachings of Gene Sharp have influenced a seemingly new approach to the environmental movement.
GUEST PANEL ADMISSION WITH TICKETS TO HOW TO START A REVOLUTION AND/OR HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD
H OW T O C H A N G E T H E WO R L D
P O L I S H E D A N D PA C E D L I K E A C A P E R FLICK, THE FILM CAPTURES THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MAKE-IT-UP-ASYO U - G O E A R LY D AY S , W H I L E A L S O H I G H L I G H T I N G T H E S T R E S S E S T H AT C O M E A F T E R A M O V E M E N T TA K E S O N A L I F E O F I T S OW N . — T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S
SUNDAY 1 ST 17:45 • DIR. Jerry Rothwell • COUNTRY. Canada • RUN-TIME. 1h 52m
In 1971, a small group of Canadian activists sailed an old fishing boat called Green Peace straight for the middle of an atomic bomb test site… and the modern environmental movement was born.
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD gives an honest warts-and-all portrait of the (often messy) early days of Greenpeace. Using never-seenbefore archive footage alongside an eclectic 60s-70s soundtrack, it focuses on the three campaigns that shaped the movement’s beginnings. It’s both a tribute to their early adoption of the concept of “going viral,” harnessing the power of images (which they called “media mind bombs”) to transform consciousnesses. And it’s also a cautionary tale on how ballooning egos and power struggles can get in the way of a movement’s effectiveness.
ONE OF THE YEAR’S MOST S AT I S F Y I N G D O C U M E N TA R I E S . — THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
C U R AT O R S NOTES
W E A R E A PA R T O F N AT U R E , N O T A PA R T FROM IT
We have curated this film festival to contribute to the cultural awakening the UK is experiencing around the climate crisis. Historically, the arts have proven to be a critical force in building up and amplifying the momentum of civil movements. We believe in the power of visual arts to be a catalyst; curators, artists and creatives are called upon to do their part just as much as activists, NGO workers or scientists.
Our selection of documentaries, curated as one organic structure, dissects the issue and shows constructive pathways to action, while exploring original perspectives. We have structured the festival thematically, grouping films to create an overarching cinematic narrative. Whilst each day and film explores different issues, our aim is to leave the viewer with a sense of empowerment and readiness to act
To achieve this we felt the need to invite each spectator to go beyond the single documentary they might come to watch. We believe that, as curators, we need to provide not only material to watch, but also tools to engage with. The cinematic aspect is integrated with talks by guest speakers, a panel discussion, and a zine with articles and practical advice. We hope these contributions will create a synergy, bringing our audience closer to their own answer to the difficult question, ‘but what can I do?’
We asked ourselves that question a few months ago too. The three of us are not fundraisers, journalists, or climatologists: our day jobs are seemingly disconnected to the climate crisis. Yet, we happen to love film and have found our own pathway to contribute — this festival is our answer. It has made us realise that everyone is capable of harnessing their skills and passions to make an impact.
E L I S PÄ R N SUSANNA BASSO SIMON MÉLIZAN