Through an animated conversation, scientists explore if everyone can live well without harming the environment and reveal how hope and creativity can inspire change.
SCREENINGS
The Portland EcoFilm Festival, Oregon, USA. Saturday, May 3, 2025
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, April 13th, CURA, Morgan Hill, CA, 2025
McMinnville Short Film Festival, Oregon USA, Feb 27th - March 2nd, 2025
Oxford Film Festival, Mississippi (USA) Feb 27th - March 2nd 2025
Beloit International Film Festival, Wisconsin USA, March 28 -April 6, 2025
Colorado Environmental Film Festival (USA) February 21-23 2025
This Is England (France) 16-23rd November 2024
Green Screen Environmental Film Festival (Caribbean) November 2024
Ekotopfilm Festival (Slovakia) 28th-30th October 2024
Cambridge Film Festival (UK) 24-31 October 2024
Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (Mexico) 24-27 October 2024
AWARDS:
Gabriel Figueroa Special Award at Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
IN THE PRESS
Animated film explores sustainable futures (University of Leeds)
CREDITS
A Film by David Bunting & James McKay
Written, Directed & Produced by David Bunting
Illustrations by James McKay. Story by David Bunting & James McKay
Based on “The Living Well Within Limits” project, led by Prof. Julia Steinberger. Supported by The Leverhulme Trust & University of Leeds
Featuring in order of appearance:
James Mckay, Professor Julia Steinberger, Dr Joel Millward-Hopkins, Dr Marta Baltruszewicz, Dr Jefim Vogel, Lottie Brown, Sophia Carreira, Mia McKay
Edited by Roberta Bononi BFE
Lead Animator - Billy Allison
Stop Motion Animation - Paul Couvela, Jonathan Garvey, Ian Barrans
Junior Animators - Emily Burke, Emma Conlon, Weronika Daria Trzpis
2D FX Animation - David Bunting
Compositor - Chloe Waite
VFX compositor - Quentin Vien
Colour Design & Digital Backgrounds - Barnaby Catterall
Composed and performed by Dave Bainbridge
Sound Design & Re-Recording Mixer - Izzy Cope
Voice Recording - House of Sound
Rostrum Photography - Christopher King
Timelapse Photography - Hopewell Studios
Live action by Oxygen Films
Special Effects - Josh Heeley
Thanks to: Alex Cameron, Jon Clay, Christina Demski, Fergus Haycock, Sarah Ann Kennedy, Spurthi Kolipaka, Kevin Nolting, Hannah Robinson, Steve Smith, Joanna Quinn, Kate Raworth, Angela Bayona-Valderrama, University of Central Lancashire
Copyright 2024 LiLi Films (2022) Ltd
FILM FESTIVAL DISTRIBUTION
THE FILMMAKERS
David and James worked in London in the late nineties but never met. David was animating on Disney’s The Tigger Movie and James was illustrating the graphic novel cult classic 2000AD. Meeting 20 years later in Knaresborough where they live, they discovered a creative synergy. They first collaborated on A Christmas Carol (2020), for Lawrence Batley Theatre and Front Room. David was the animation director and James, the Art Director. The production gained national critical acclaim. Their first animated film is the result of a shared desire to tell positive, engaging and thought-provoking stories that break through the eco-bubble.
Described by author Rob Hopkins as the man who draws the future, James uses art to inspire climate action. His visions of a positive future where people adapt to and mitigate climate change are informed by world-leading scientists. His work has been featured on BBC radio and was shortlisted for both the NCCPE Engage Awards (2014) and the IIASA international prize for visioning positive futures (2022).
David has storyboarded iconic Children’s TV series including Shaun the Sheep, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed and Bob the Builder. He co-produced the multi-award-winning 4mation short, The Astronomer's Sun for Channel 4 Television. His animated campaign short, I wish I went to Ecuador, animated by school children, won awards at environmental film festivals around the world, was shown to delegates at COP, and received plaudits from Al Gore.