About the production
  • Year of production
    2020
  • Broadcast and production partners
    Financed by Screen Australia, Screen Territory, Screen Tasmania, Film Victoria and private donors.

Synopsis

WILD THINGS is a feature length documentary that follows a new generation of environmental activists that are mobilising against forces more powerful than themselves and saying, enough. Armed only with mobile phones, this growing army of eco warriors will do whatever it takes to save their futures from the ravages of climate change. From chaining themselves to coal trains, sitting high in the canopy of threatened rainforest for days on end or locking onto bulldozers, their non-violent tactics are designed to generate mass action with one finger tap. Messages go viral within seconds. It’s a far cry from the heady days of the Franklin River Blockade when street marches were the only way to be heard.

Against a backdrop of unprecedented drought, fire and floods; we witness how today’s environmentalists are making a difference and explore connections with the past through the untold stories of previous campaigns. Surprisingly the methods of old still have currency when a groundswell of school students inspired by the actions of 16-year old Greta Thunberg say, ‘change is coming’ and call a national strike demanding action against global warming.

Press Quotes & Reviews

    ​ "I got tingles towards the end of the invigorating trailer for Sally Ingleton’s documentary about eco warriors – young, old and everywhere in between – fighting for the future on the frontline of environmental activism."

    Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian, 26 Dec 2020

    "A beautifully made and stirring documentary that will hopefully inspire audiences to join the movement and fight for our planet."

    Jordan Ellis, Glam Adelaide, 15 Jan, 2021

    "...one of the better Australian documentaries of late." "Tracing a year on the frontline of Australian environmental activism, Sally Ingleton's documentary is most powerful in its portrait of youthful eco-warriors." "...the film’s team of cinematographers have made lovely use of beautiful landscapes..which complement the more verité-style use of handheld camerawork and smartphone recordings on the ground at protest marches and embedded in the climate activist frontlines."

    Glenn Dunks, Screenhub, 25 Jan 2021

    "It is most impressive as a piece of documentary cinema. Its production value is exceptional, and the balance, in terms of style of footage, is excellent. Fly-on-the-wall footage unfolds amid carefully placed interviews and video diaries."

    Ari Mattes, The Conversation, 4 Feb 2021

    "A passionate call to action against global warming, Wild Things is documentary at its slickest...It seamlessly combines archival footage, camera phone footage, stunningly panoramic aerial photography and beautiful-in-forest images with the whole thing anchored around a group of very likeable environmental activists."

    Ari Mattes, In Daily, 5 Feb 2021
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Credits
  • Producer
    Sally Ingleton
  • Director
    Sally Ingleton
  • Executive Producer
    Shaun Miller
  • Executive Producer
    Mark Spratt
  • Images
    Julian Meehan. Matthew Newton & Sally Ingleton
Distribution
Awards
  • Nominated
    Cinefest Oz Film Prize, Australia 2020
  • Official Selection
    Adelaide Film Festival, Australia 2020
  • Official Selection
    Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Australia 2020
  • Official Selection
    Capricorn Film Festival, Queensland 2021
  • Official Selection
    Environmental Film Festival, Australia, 2021
  • Nominated
    Best Sound in a Documentary, AACTA Awards, Australia 2020
  • Winner, Award of Excellence
    Impact Docs Awards! USA 2021
  • Winner, Cinematography Award
    A Show For A Change Film Festival, USA 2021
  • Official Selection
    EARTH Week at the Newport Film Festival, USA 2021
  • Official Selection
    NORTH WEST FEST, Canada 2021
  • Official Selection
    Newport Film Festival, USA 2021
  • Official Selection
    Vegan Film Festival, Australia 2021
  • Official Selection
    Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2021
  • Winner, Cinematography Award
    A Show For Change Film Festival, Feb 2021
  • Official Selection
    Eugene Environmental Film Festival, USA 2022
  • 2nd Place
    Best Interactive Documentary, Lonely Wolf Film Festival, UK 2022
  • 3rd Place
    Best Feature Documentary, Lonely Wolf Film Festival, UK 2022
  • 9th Place
    Best Nature Documentary, Lonely Wolf Film Festival, UK 2022
  • Official Selection
    Flickfair Festival, online 2022
  • Finalist
    International Vegan Film Festival, Canada, 2022
  • Nominated Best Feature Documentary
    MAGMA Hawaii International Festival 2022
  • Winner Anthropocene Category
    Climax Critics Awards 2022
  • Winner, Best Environmental Documentary,
    LA Independent Women Film Awards, USA 2022
  • Winner
    ETHOS Film Awards USA 2022
  • Official Selection
    Colorado Environmental Film Festival 2023
  • Official Selection
    Darwin International Film Festival 2023