Mother Earth

Aim

To complete a short documentary about two mothers imprisoned for their climate activism and the impact on them and their families.

FILM LOGLINE

Being a parent is not easy at the best of times, but faced with a climate emergency what should your priorities be?

BACKGROUND

Louise and Stefi, like most mothers, are worried about their children’s future. Unlike most mothers, they are willing to risk imprisonment to secure that inheritance, joining activist groups Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain to bring attention to the climate emergency.

Torn between their responsibilities to their biological families and their new-found activist family, while draconian new UK laws increase the penalties for their actions, how will they respond?

Mother/Earth is an intimate observational film about the drive to bring attention to the climate emergency and the ensuing personal cost.

HOW DID THE FILM BEGIN?

I first met Louise through co-producer Terry Macalister. Terry is author of Crude Britannia, and formerly Energy Editor at The Guardian, and was the first journalist to cover the story of the mass imprisonment of climate activists in the UK, back in 2022. Louise in turn introduced me to Stefi. I was particularly interested in their profiles as people who had never previously had any encounters with the judicial system, who felt the necessity to take actions they knew would bring them in conflict with the law.

I believe the climate emergency is the single biggest issue of our time, and lies behind many of the other issues we face. The film will document the impact of Louise and Stefi's activism on them and their families, as well as the wider impact of legislative changes on the right to peaceful protest, and urge the viewer to examine their own feelings and responses to the climate emergency.

FUNDING

With your help, I will be able to work with a professional editor, sound designer and colourist to complete the film.

Thanks to Creative Scotland's CrowdMatch scheme, donations will be matched, so for every pound you donate Creative Scotland will also donate a pound.

The target of £8,000 will be spent on post-production and distribution.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

The breakdown is as follows:

Editor: £3,600
Colour grade: £1,000
Sound Design and composition: £1,200
DCP production: £220
Film Festivals: £500
Producer: £750

10% Contingency

IMPACT

The completed film will be sent to Film Festivals both in the UK and further afield. 

If we manage to exceed our campaign target, funds will be put towards an impact campaign to engage with the general public through Q&A screenings to raise awareness of the impact of recent legislative changes on the right to protest and in particular how that affects attempts to raise awareness of the climate emergency. 

TEAM

Patrick Steel
Director, co-producer

Patrick Steel is a documentary director based in Edinburgh. Through his company Fat Toad Films, he has directed a number of films for broadcast and theatrical release, and was recently selected for the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging The Gap scheme for emerging directors.

Terry Macalister
Co-producer

Terry is a freelance journalist and filmmaker, formerly Energy Editor of The Guardian, co-author of Crude Britannia and senior member, Wolfson College, Cambridge.

Lindsay Watson
Editor

Lindsay is a documentary film editor known for her thoughtful storytelling and emotional depth. Her work has been broadcast nationally and showcased at prestigious festivals, including ‘Tish’ , the opening film of Sheffield Doc Fest 2023, and ‘Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands’, the closing film of the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2024.

Tom Drew
Sound design

Tom is a sound designer and composer for documentary, drama, animation, and other creative projects, trained at the National Film and Television School.

Florian Viale
Colourist

Florian is an experienced editor, colourist and VFX specialist with over 19 years of experience in the industry.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Even if you can't contribute financially, helping us amplify the story makes a real impact.

Share the campaign with friends, family, people who spend time outdoors and anyone who may feel connected to this story.

Connect with us on Instagram @motherearth_shortfilm and let us know how this film story resonates.

Host a screening Partner with us to host a community screening once the film is completed.

This project successfully funded on 21st January 2026