Special Event: Rave on for the Avon + Q&A with Director Charlotte Sawyer

Event details

Do humans have the right to nature? In this tender film, Director Charlotte Sawyer tells a story of a community of wild swimmers in Bristol (UK) affected by raw sewage pollution of the river Avon.

England is one of the only two countries in the world to have a fully privatised water and sewage disposal system, and with only 14% of English rivers in good ecological health, the mission to keep the rivers clean is not going well. The Bristol Council prohibits swimming in the river, and it's often filled with dangerous levels of raw sewage, chemical pollution and farm run-off. This leaves everyone with a dilemma; for all the benefits the river gives them, it could potentially cause them even greater harm.

In a series of moving, exciting and thought-provoking scenes, the swimmers create a stunning, light-hearted yet fascinating tapestry, probing how activism starts from the grassroots, and carries a profound universal lesson for all of us. There's a marriage to the river, drum'n'bass, a mermaid who tows an inflatable turd, and a whole lot of cheesecake in this poignant reflection on people's innovative battles for the natural world they cherish.

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Speaker

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Director of Rave on for the Avon, Charlotte Sawyer.

Sawyer is a Documentary Filmmaker and Photographer who captures cinematic stories that cross cultures and boundaries. With a First Class Degree in Law and Community Theatre, Charlotte combines community advocacy and facilitation skills with filmmaking to convey human-centred journeys.

This event is delivered in support of Discover! Creative Careers Month and supports schools and colleges to meet Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees. The event will provide a meaningful encounter with the opportunity for attendees to learn about what work is like, the skills valued in the workplace, recruitment processes or what it takes to be successful.