The Line We Crossed, 110min., US
Directed by Liz Smith
A British story of dissent, drawn from the frontlines of climate resistance. Through the experiences of those who stood in defiance, it traces the quiet unraveling of our protest rights. The film challenges audiences to question what makes dissent effective and where the line of acceptability is.

http://www.thelinewecrossed.com/
https://www.instagram.com/p75investigates/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was developing a film about polarisation and democratic backsliding, and how that intersects with the climate crisis. Just Stop Oil were a very polarising group in the UK so I went to find out more about them and then I heard about climate activists being sent to prison for contempt of court for saying the words "climate crisis" in front of the jury. I couldn't believe it. So I started following what was going on with my camera and it all just flowed from there.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
2 years

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
We're screwed.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
No distributors would get behind it because the topic was too toxic for them to handle and there was a perception in the industry that "no one wanted to watch films about climate change anymore". (We've already proved them wrong on that last point!)

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
This was the first time we got feedback from viewers outside the UK and it was really encouraging that all of them, with one exception, had "got" the film. It shows it is a universal issue, even though the story is a very British one.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
2002, or at least that's when I made the decision to apply to film school

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
No idea!

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Going to festivals and having your film screened there is mostly a really wonderful experience, but doing the festival circuit is expensive. Entry fees add up, if you attend in person, the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs quickly add up. Festivals present a fantastic opportunity to show your film to audiences you otherwise might not reach, but for indie filmmakers the economics of it rarely add up. I don't know how we can solve that problem.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It makes it so much more efficient for us. I wish every festival used it. It also makes it easier to keep track of your entries.

10. What is your favorite meal?
It's not a meal as such but to most people's horror, I love 100% dark chocolate. The good thing is, no one ever steals it from you!

11. What is next for you? A new film?
There will always be a next film for me. There are so many films I want to make.