Reading Climate Festival to Screen Insect Documentary and Local Transition Film
The Reading Climate Festival 2026 will host a screening of «The Little Things That Run the World» alongside Transition Town Reading's short film «What If a Better World Were Possible?», followed by a panel discussion with local environmental experts at the Reading Biscuit Factory on July 14th.
As part of the Reading Climate Festival 2026, the independent cinema Reading Biscuit Factory will host a screening of the documentary «The Little Things That Run the World» on Tuesday, July 14th, at 6.00 pm. The event will also feature Transition Town Reading's own short film, «What If a Better World Were Possible?», and a post-film Q&A panel discussion with local environmental experts.
The main film, directed by Doug Hawes-Davis, explores the critical importance of flying insects amid rapid declines in their numbers. Insects, which make up three-quarters of all animal species, have been called the «glue of life» on Earth, holding ecosystems together. They were the first animals to evolve flight nearly 440 million years ago and have survived all five known mass extinctions. However, evidence suggests that the current pace of decline in some parts of the world is approaching the levels of previous catastrophes. The film documents the mysteries of these declines and the creative efforts to reverse the trend, featuring interviews with scientists, nature lovers, gardeners, farmers, and bug enthusiasts.
Transition Town Reading's film, «What If a Better World Were Possible?» (21 minutes), directed by Liam Rooney Productions, celebrates seven community-led initiatives across Reading that focus on energy, water, waste, nature connection, and ecosystem restoration. From pub dwellers restoring a local marsh to a community-owned hydro-power project and Solar Punk stories on public walkways, the film highlights the power of local action in the face of global problems like climate change and inequality. «It is members of the community who are the force of change. We hope the film lights the way for others to see what they might also do in their own town, village, or street,» said Chris Rhodes, chair of Transition Town Reading.
The evening will conclude with a Q&A panel featuring Prof Chris Rhodes, Director of Fresh-lands Environmental Actions and Chair of Transition Town Reading; Dr Chris Foster, Lecturer in Animal Ecology at the University of Reading and University lead for biodiversity on the Environmental Sustainability Committee; Grahame Hawker, Vice-chair of the Upper Thames branch of Butterfly Conservation and President of the Reading and District Natural History Society; and Tricia Marcouse, an environmental engineer and local naturalist focusing on the benefits of local green spaces on behalf of ECONET and RDNHS.
The event is part of the Reading Climate Festival, which aims to engage the community in environmental issues. The programme runs from 6.00 pm with the main film, followed by a short break at 7.45 pm, the Transition Town Reading film at 8.00 pm, and the panel discussion at 8.25 pm, finishing at approximately 9.00 pm. Tickets can be booked through the festival's website.
The documentary has received praise from experts. Chris Stelzig, Executive Director of the Entomological Society of America, called it «a visual treat» and «an important and visually entrancing film that reminds us of the perils of ignoring the needs of our invertebrate neighbors.» David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut, described it as «a terrific and timely summary of the global status of insects,» while Daniel Gruner, Professor of Entomology at the University of Maryland, said the film «shows that solutions are local, and that in our gardens, farms, and cities, we are far from helpless to turn the tide.»
The event at Reading Biscuit Factory, located at 1 Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7QE, offers an opportunity for the community to engage with pressing environmental issues and learn about local solutions. It underscores the festival's focus on fostering dialogue and action around climate and nature.
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