Dr Lisa who was one of the key environmental activists from the documentary WILD THINGS is currently in Darfur, Sudan, working with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) as an Emergency Coordinator. She has been working with MSF for the past 11 months, coordinating emergency humanitarian aid in Haiti and in various locations in Sudan. The security situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, with a huge part of the country under control of gangs, and a horrific humanitarian situation marked by extreme levels of violence and poverty. In 2024 MSF took the decision to open a new Maternity hospital in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.

In Sudan, a civil war has caused over 11 million people to be displaced. Dr Lisa tells us, “The combination of insecurity and systematic blockages by the warring parties means that getting humanitarian assistance to the people in need is extremely challenging, and the humanitarian response is completely inadequate to respond to the needs. Famine has already been declared in several regions, and the situation is expected to worsen in 2025. MSF is here, working on both sides of the frontline and bringing humanitarian aid to these people in the form of healthcare, water and sanitation, targeted food distributions for the most vulnerable families, and small cash grants to community initiatives to provide support to school feeding programs […]

In 1996 Sally Ingleton produced and directed MAO’S NEW SUIT which tells the story of two young fashion designers trying to make it in China’s new market economy. The documentary was commissioned by Channel 4 in the UK and SBS in Australia. It was invited to numerous film festivals and won a few awards. The film was shot on 16mm and we recently restored the original work through digital enhancement at Blue Post in Melbourne. The difference is remarkable as the restoration copy is much sharper and the colours more vibrant. We also restored all the subtitles and captions.

The film was recently showcased by the Asian Film Archive in Singapore who screened the film as part of a season on Asian fashion.

One of the designers is Guo Pei who is now China’s most famous haute couture designer. Guo Pei has had several solo exhibitions of her creations at museums around the world including the current M+ Museum Hong Kong exhibition on until April 2025.

In addition Guo Pei has collaborated with Musee Quai Branly on a special exhibition on Golden Thread. The exhibition opened recently, and is on until 6 July 2025.

The documentary Mao’s New Suit is available to purchase via the website store.

WILD THINGS has had much success in the classroom where our free educational teacher lesson plans developed withCool.Org/a> have been used by 240 schools empowering an estimated 48,000 students to take climate action!

A big thank you to the Garry White Foundation who have sponsored another year of Cool Australia’s hosting of these resources.

Take a look at the resources!

It’s just over two years since WILD THINGS was released and we thought it was a good time to give you an update on what our wonderful climate activists are up to.

Firstly Dr Lisa Searle has continued her work with the Bob Brown Foundation for protection of Tasmania’s wild places. Many activists have been blockading the takayna rainforest against a new threat from Chinese state-owned mining company MMG, who are trying to build a new tailings dam for their toxic mining waste. In the winter of 2021, 71 activists were arrested on this site. The tailings dam project is still waiting for approval from Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek.

The campaign for an end to native forest logging continues as well, and protests have been ongoing in native forests across the state.

Since the filming of WILD THINGS, thanks to the efforts of so many passionate and brave activists, no more logging has occurred within the proposed takayna National Park, and damage from mining companies in this region has been limited to preliminary works and exploratory drilling.

Lisa has continued her work with Médecins Sans Frontières, and has spent time working in humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, Ukraine and Haiti, providing emergency medical care to populations in distress.

The two young climate activists Harriet O’Shea Carre and Milou Albrecht have finished their […]

Many of you who watched the documentary WILD THINGS will remember Tarkine forest activist Dr Lisa Searle. Lisa is currently working with Médecins Sans Frontières in Ukraine and recently posted THIS NEWS STORY.

WILD THINGS continues to find new audiences across Australian classrooms and at international film festivals.

The film recently screened at the Eugene Environmental Film Festival in Oregon USA and at the Lonely Wolf Film Festival in the UK where it picked up the following nominations:
2nd Place Best Interactive Documentary
3rd Place Best Feature Documentary
9th Place Best Nature Documentary

You can STREAM THE WILD THINGS FEATURE FILM or STREAM THE WILD THINGS ONE HOUR TV VERSION.

Cool.Org also has TEACHER NOTES AND LESSON PLANS. During 2021/2022 it is estimated the film was seen and discussed by nearly 40,000 students who participated in lessons around climate action.

WILD THINGS screened on Saturday 16 October, 2021 at the Ubud Writer’s Festival as part of their Environment and Social Change program. Sally Ingleton did a live Q&A after the screening with moderator Helene Ouvrard (see photo).

In great news, WILD THINGS is now available to stream via the 360 Degree Film’s “On-Demand” film page.

You can stream either the 58min or 89min version of the film.

Many of you have asked how you can see the documentary WILD THINGS. We’re pleased to let you know the TV version (1 hour) will be on SBS Viceland on Tuesday July 20 at 8.30pm followed by a month on SBS On Demand.

This is your opportunity to watch the documentary – whether you are in lockdown or not – and share it with your friends.

Free Teaching Resources Available! Educators please download these free resources to help you use WILD THINGS in the classroom!

DVD’s and Educational Streaming are also available.

Follow the film on Facebook: @wildthingsdocumentary and Instagram: #wildthingsdocumentary and help spread the word!

#WildThings

Let us know what you think. We love getting feedback.

We are pleased to advise that the one hour version of WILD THINGS will be broadcast on SBS VICELAND at 8.30pm on 20th July 2021. Following the broadcast the film will be available on SBS On Demand.

Please tell your friends and local environment and community groups to tune in!