Norwich’s annual Green Film Festival commenced on the 22^nd of April at Cinema City with an inspiring screening of Barbara Santi’s Gentle, Angry Women (2025). A recorded introduction by Santi and the festival’s organiser and UEA Associate Professor, Karina Aveyard, opened the screening, giving an insight into the intentions of Santi’s film. The documentary highlights the widely forgotten events of the Greenham Women’s peaceful protests, as well as their 20-year-long protest camp at Greenham Common between 1980 and 2000. Their stance was strongly against nuclear weapons being placed in Greenham and was focused on the power of female-led peaceful protest.

The documentary touches on the marches and camps and includes the current perspectives of those who lived in them. Alongside this historical approach in the documentary, we are introduced to three young female activists – Poppy, Xanthe and Evie. They, much like many of the film’s audience, are learning about Greenham’s history for the first time. They retrace the steps of the women before them, and conclude the documentary at Greenham Common, now possessed by the Greenham Common Trust. 

The film was incredibly inspiring and provoked not only hope for a future  generation of women but also awe at the actions and bravery of the women who  came before. It reflected on the importance of remembering female history and the power it can hold. As a woman, it felt incredible to be in a cinema with people who care about female voices and believe in the power of women. 

The second event of the festival was not only a film screening but also an art  exhibition, VR experience and a social reception. Also held at Cinema City, the  Embassy of El Salvador in the United Kingdom supported the screening of Reefs: Our Sustenance Beneath the Waves (2026). The documentary comments on El Salvador’s rich underwater ecosystem and the impacts of climate change on it. The film concluded with what local communities are doing to protect the reefs, whilst also using them to support their people economically. This documentary also provided hope, specifically for the increasing protection of biodiversity worldwide. It was motivating to see communities with environmental protection and preservation as a real priority in their minds.

The third and final screening of the first week was held at St Andrew’s Crypt. The  free, sold-out event was opened with music from DJ Long Swords, as well as a screening of the short film Waterlands (Peter Spence, 2024). The film touched upon the threat of flooding in East Anglian Fens, using excerpts of black-and-white found footage to reflect on the land’s history. The main screening – Silent Running (Douglas Trumball, 1972) – was opened by UEA Associate Professor Geraint D’Arcy, who spoke on the details of the film’s creation. He mentioned its use of handmade models, its lack of advertisement, and the impact it had on science fiction films that followed. The director of this film, Douglas Trumball, is also known for his  visual effects work on iconic science fiction films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968), Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982), and Star Trek: The MoDon Picture (Robert Wise, 1979). Silent Running itself follows ecologist Lowell aboard a spacecraft, who nurtures a previously extinct ecosystem in multiple dome-shaped greenhouses on the ship. When threatened with their destruction,  Lowell’s actions become dangerous and erratic. The film reflects on the bond humans can have with nature, and the care that is required when nurturing a  habitat and helping it to grow. The visual aspect of this film was incredible – vibrant colours, luscious nature, retro space suits and charismatic droids, to mention but a few.  

The film festival’s first three events were a success, and I feel fortunate to have  been able to attend all three screenings. The connection of sustainability and  nature with film promotes the power of film to an audience. I left these events not only with greater knowledge of film festivals as a whole, but also with a renewed hope environmentally. The film festival events will continue on the 27^th of May at the Norwich Theatre Royal’s Stage Two with a screening of Sally Aitken’s Every Little Thing (2024).

Image credit: Kathryn Bailey