Private screening of My Extinction followed by Q&A with Director Josh Appignanesi
What does it take for us to act on the climate crisis - especially if we're the kind of person who should already be acting? In this funny, relatable documentary feature, a concerned yet ineffectual dad finds the first step is letting those unbearable feelings of climate anxiety in, instead of pushing them aside. But as he meets others like him, he discovers how oil-backed propagandists funded our denial and paralysis. They set out to unmask the vested interests responsible, helping raise a generation's leading voices in vibrant chorus at the game-changing Tufton Street protest, including Zadie Smith, Mark Rylance, and George Monbiot. Selected to screen to delegates at the COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai, My Extinction is a revealingly honest account of how to feel your feelings, act on your privilege, and get active when threatened with extinction. You can watch the trailer here.
This event is in collaboration with Cambridge climaTRACES Lab.
Josh Appignanesi is a filmmaker whose work spans fiction, documentary and the space in-between. His six feature films released theatrically in over thirty territories and online in over a hundred, with his work gaining festival competition slots at Tribeca, Rotterdam, Cannes/ACID, Berlin and Sheffield, with festival awards at London, Edinburgh, Turin, and Kodak, BIFA and BAFTA nominations.
As director, his features include acclaimed docufictions HUSBAND (2022) and the surrealist psychothriller and “feminist odyssey” FEMALE HUMAN ANIMAL (2018), the Wellcome-funded parenting documentary THE NEW MAN (2016), ethno-religious comedy THE INFIDEL (2010) scripted with David Baddiel, and religious psychodrama SONG OF SONGS (2006). He also co-wrote US rom-com ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
Most recently, climate documentary MY EXTINCTION (2023) released in over 60 UK cinemas and screened at COP28. He is pursuing future projects in the climate space.
He has directed talent including Tom Hiddleston, John Malkovich, David Tennant, Archie Panjabi, Omid Djalili, Claudia Jessie, Miranda Hart, and Richard Schiff, and collaborated with artist Martin Creed. Cultural figures like Zadie Smith, Hisham Matar, Slavoj Zizek, Chloe Aridjis, and John Berger have appeared in his films, often playing ‘versions of themselves.’
Widely reviewed, with interviews and op-eds on BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio, The Times, The Observer and The Guardian, his work has broadcast on BBC TV, Channel 4, MUBI, and BFIPlayer. Funders have included BFI, BBC Films, Channel4, Film London, Arts Council England, WellcomeTrust, and AHRC.
He teaches internationally and is Associate Professor at Roehampton University.
ACCLAIM FOR MY EXTINCTION
“Skewers middle-class attitudes to impending apocalypse” – Catherine Bray, THE GUARDIAN
"Jaunty, funny film-making" - Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
''Reminds us working together is empowering'' - Susie Orbach, THE OBSERVER
“My Extinction is about the limits of language to address imminent catastrophe, but also the necessity of finding words to describe what’s happening, to tell stories that will convince and move and make a difference.” Lauren Elkin, ARTFORUM
“If you feel you should be doing more to limit climate change but never seem to get round to it, this British documentary will speak to you” - Ed Potton, SUNDAY TIMES
“… confronts the imperfect nature of being a climate activist” - Henry Bird, TIMES ENVIRONMENT NEWSLETTER
“An excellent look into the step-by-step process of realising and understanding climate change and its impact on everyday people” - Mae Trumata, THE UPCOMING
“Is Josh Appignanesi transforming into the next great documentarian? My Extinction reads like the opening chapters of an unfinished novel from an intellectual-turned-radical: heavy sociopolitical context, rich character development and instructions for the path forward. Essential viewing.” Quinn Hough, VAGUE VISAGES
WHEN: Thursday 16th May 2024
7.00 pm-9.00 pm Screening and Q&A in the Keynes Lecture Theatre (including popcorn)
WHERE: King’s College, Cambridge
TICKETS: get your free ticket here