BEYOND THE EMERGENCY tells the compelling story of a group of people coming together to demand change. Change to combat the climate crisis, and change that cuts to the heart of who we really want to be. From the launch of Extinction Rebellion in 2018, we follow those at the centre as they navigate the highs and lows of crashing into the status quo – and each other. Unlikely characters, from an international climate lawyer to an organic vegetable farmer, strive to work together. Some are hellbent on causing disruption while others, especially the youth, set out to learn different ways we can relate to one another and the natural world.
Confronting the systems that have driven us to this crisis is hard – but enacting new patterns of behaviour is even harder. This is a film about the human drama of social change; a film which will encourage audiences to leave behind preconceived notions of activism and recognise the challenges we all face.
See our other Grantees.
KAT MANSOOR, PRODUCER
KAT MANSOOR is an award-winning film producer who has been making films for the past 20 years. Kat recently set up Halcyon Pictures which is a film production company specialising in developing and crafting the most captivating stories of our time. Kat has worked with BBC Films, Channel 4, Film 4, Netflix and Vice to deliver long-form documentaries. Her film credits include double Grierson-winning and RTS nominated HERE’S JOHNNY (Channel 4/Wellcome), BLACKOUT, THE MAN WHOSE MIND EXPLODED (Film4), IDA’S DIARY (Vice/International), and LOST AND SOUND (International). Kat is in pre-production on GEN ANGST (Participant), and in production with XR: BEYOND THE EMERGENCY (BFI); and; TIMEKEEPERS (worldsales). Films in post production include COW (BBC films) and WHAT WE BELIEVE (BBC Storyville).
MAIA KENWORTHY, DIRECTOR
MAIA KENWORTHY is a freelance filmmaker based in London. After a directing course at the Met Film School, Maia made films for charities and is currently producing a documentary for UnLtd, a charity that supports social entrepreneurs. She started focusing on environmentalism during her MA in Documentary Filmmaking, when she followed a campaign against a lucrative golf course on a highly protected landscape.
ELENA SÁNCHEZ BELLOT, DIRECTOR
ELENA SÁNCHEZ BELLOT is a Spanish filmmaker living and working in London. Having grown up in various countries, she has a love for stories from all around the world. Her interest in the relationship between storytelling and moving image drove her to take film courses at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore followed by an MA in Ethnographic and Documentary Filmmaking at UCL. She now works collaboratively with documentary production companies, mainly on public sector commissions.