Rising

Thank you for all the kindness shown to yesterday's magic moment.

Films. Films. More films. Then a film to round off the day.

I spent today previewing the films I'll be presenting over the next few days - as ever there's a couple I just don't connect with, but the other 95% are simply inspiring, amazing and really, really well made. I'm going to have a blast - despite the changes the festival have made to how we do things (which I'm sure I'll write about over the next few days).

But tonight we kicked off our 'Fest as members of  the audience at the premier of a film the charity Mrs IttH works for have commissioned about last year's terrible flooding in the Lake District. I know the Director, and I know he was given a really open brief, but the piece of work he's done is simply fabulous. Yes there are some dramatic, even harrowing scenes, yes for many of us it was hard to watch in places - but ultimately, as all good stories are, it's about the people. The landscape and those who live there - both shown to be tough yet fragile, broken yet resilient. Both the water and the people Rising.

It's only a short film, and like all films of this type it will be available free online - I'd urge you all to watch it. I know we can't and won't change the minds of those who think climate change is a Chinese government myth - but for anyone who still thinks it won't affect them, that it's just about government treaties - well this shows how close to home it can really be.