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FILMS ABOUT URBAN LIVING

Most of the world's population is urban and most of the world's problems are created in urban and industrial environments. For a long time it felt like the solutions to the predicaments of our era required a return to the rural landscape. But not only is that impossible for us all to do, it's not necessary. So many people are exploring beautiful ways to create human resilience in urban environments, from what David Holmgren describes as 'retrofitting the suburbs' to community hubs, community gardens, reviving the commons and introducing local currencies.


Explore some of the options for creating a beautiful path forward on your own urban footpaths!

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Use the buttons below to filter the list of films. You can select more than one option, and click again to deselect. 

Woody smiling up to a person out of shot

Simple Living, Permaculture, Community, Urban Living

A Day in the Life of Woody

12 mins

A Day in the Life of Woody showcases the unschooled life of 11-year-old Blackwood, a boy who has been schooled from home all his life.

Photograph of Helen Dew smiling at the camera, holding a freshly harvested basket of greens.

Community, Food & Gardening, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Economy, Urban Living

Being the Change at 85

13 mins

Helen Dew is an 85-year-old activist with a passion for gardening, community resilience, biochar, seed saving and living simply.

Photograph of Michael Reynolds sitting cross-legged amidst food forest trees speaking to camera.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living

The City Food Commons

12 mins

The commons has been an almost-forgotten concept, and yet once provided so much community resilience. This film showcases a new approach.

Image of Liam and Hannah speaking to camera about zero waste.

Zero Waste, Urban Living, Simple Living

The Rubbish Trip

17 mins

What does it mean to be on the zero waste journey? And why is it important for us each to take personal responsibility for our waste?

A graphic art poster for the Ben & bEartha film with Ben smiling in the foreground and teams of composters and community members in the background.

Zero Waste, Community, Urban Living, Food & Gardening

Ben & bEartha: A Community's Compost Love Story

39 mins

Follow the remarkable journey of a passionate man making composting at a community-wide scale not just a dream but the real thing.

An aerial view of the Guytons 2 acres of food forest and their white and grey timber cottage.

Permaculture, Food & Gardening, Urban Living, Regenerating Nature

Growing Wild Together

16 mins

We revisit the food forest we filmed five years ago to discover what's changed and how much more wild it's all become – plants and people!

Four photos showing scenes from Together We Grow – children gardening, colourful artworks and a backyard garden

Food & Gardening, Community, Permaculture, Urban Living

Together We Grow: The Story of Common Unity

39 mins

Learn the variety of ways this community comes together to help those in need to have access to great food and meaningful connections

A photo of Robyn and Robert sitting on the porch of their green timber cottage.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living

An Invitation for Wildness

20 mins

The Guytons have made a name for themselves as forest gardeners. In this first of two films we tour the forest when it is 23 years old.

Photo of Lauren, Oberon and their two daughters harvesting vegetables from a garden.

Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living

A Life with Less Waste

8 mins

What secrets does this family hold to reducing individual impact on the planet by reducing family waste streams?

Kat Lavers holds a basket full of freshly harvested veges, standing in front of her tiny but abundant garden.

Permaculture, Community, Food & Gardening, Simple Living, Urban Living

The Plummery

8 mins

Find out how to grow an abundance of fruit and vegetables even when you have a tiny backyard garden in the middle of a busy city.

Sam and Helen's urban backyard garden

Permaculture, Simple Living, Urban Living, Zero Waste, Food & Gardening, Community, Economy

Degrowth in the Suburbs

15 mins

What does sustainable living in the city look like? This film explores the different methods one family employs to reduce their impact.

Photograph of Richard standing in front of his garden wearing a red t shirt and a brown hat.

Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Urban Living

Abdallah House

14 mins

A tour of a very small urban section that has been developed using permaculture principles to make best use of the space.

Meg, Woody and Patrick sit at the outdoor kitchen table eating dinner in orange bowls on an orange and yellow checkered table cloth.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living

Creatures of Place

12 mins

This family live an incredibly simple life, yet they have an abundance in so many things – food, community, time to create a beautiful life.

Poster artwork for Living the Change with green lettering, a blue planet and a black background.

Community, Simple Living, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living, Permaculture, Economy, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Zero Waste

Living the Change

86 mins

Living the Change is a feature-length documentary that explores solutions to the global crises we face today.

Fiona and Kane harvest vegetables from the tidy rows of their urban market garden.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Urban Living

Urban Abundance

5 mins

This couple have turned their urban back yard into beautiful neat rows of market garden and help others to garden in their own back yards.

Photograph of Lou, from Food is Free Laneway, speaking to camera about the #foodisfree initiative

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Urban Living

The Food Is Free Laneway

4 mins

A film showcasing Lou and the Food is Free Laneway she initiated alongside her house, following the principles of #foodisfree.

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