Issues such as pollution, food production, consumption and health are becoming more complex with the warming planet. We are keen to engage and inspire members of the public to take action and develop ideas that can contribute to a reduction in our carbon intensive lifestyles and help build resilient, well informed communities that can respond well to global system shocks. Documentaries are a great introduction to the issues of our time. We want to use screenings as a stepping stone to wider public involvement in the solutions and changes we need to make at a local and individual level. We will be developing activities, showcasing local opportunities, creating workshops and engagement campaigns alongside the screenings. Films for the future hopes to unite local people in a fun and meaningful way.

What we'll deliver:

• Bi-monthly free screening events for all members of the public
• Access to themed issue campaigns such as plastic pollution or biodiversity loss
• An space and time to collaborate with others and create solutions that fit our community

Why it's a great idea:

Since the Paris Agreement there has been little movement from a national level to help communities understand the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how this international agreement affects us. Films for the Future is an engaging and simple method of bringing people together to discuss the challenges before us with a friendly social approach. We can work with local businesses who are committed to valuing people and planet. We can work with local academics at Anglia Ruskin University. We can work with other community groups and link with the County Council initiatives (such as wastebusters). We can work with local artists. We can work with local media. These bi-monthly events will provide an opportunity for people to get together, learn more, be creative together and find solutions that can bring change for good at a local and global level.

Steps to get it done:

• purchasing the license to show the next documentary
• submitting an advertisement for the event to local media
• creating an eventbrite page for the screening
• Creating Films for the future reuseable screening bags to contain information and resources on the documentary theme

We have already tested this event structure screening A Plastic Ocean for world earth day in April 2018. 50 members of the public attended and feedback was entirely positive. We provided vegan food and drinks. We created space for people to talk about the documentary afterwards and share ideas. Sarah Greenfield Clark was asked onto BBC Essex to discuss the event as there was a great deal of interest in the issue locally. This was organised with Anglia Ruskin University as the hosts. It shows that with even very little promotion, issues such as pollution are important to local people and Films for the Future provides a space for action.