As sea levels continue to rise, low lying communities world-wide are potentially at serious risk. This event pairs films that explore the impact of rising tides on vulnerable communities, an island in the Thames Estuary and the highest areas of Miami. Exploring ideas of environmental gentrification and the impact of climate change on marginalised communities, these films will spark conversations and pose challenges for everyone to explore how we can ensure that the impact of climate change is reduced and where it occurs it doesn’t impact those with the least, the most.

Until the Tide Creeps In (Jessi Gutch/2022/UK/17 mins)

Trapped behind a crumbling sea wall and within a deadly chemical hazard range, a group of islanders gather evidence of corporate manslaughter for the disaster they fear is inevitable. Director Jessi Gutch’s hybrid documentary short plays with fiction, time and trauma to imagine the future disaster potentially set to befall Canvey Island - again.

Razing Liberty Square (Katja Esson/2023/USA/85 mins)

As rising sea-levels threaten the city of Miami, one local black community fight to save their neighbourhood from property developers and climate gentrification. From Academy Award nominated filmmaker Katja Esson, Razing Liberty Square studies perspectives from all angles - including residents, community advocates, teachers, developers, and politicians - to show how the climate crisis exacerbates the affordable housing crisis and systemic racism.

The guests on the discussion panel are Professor Geraint Ellis and Dr. Nuala Flood from QUB School of Natural and Built Environment, and Joan Parsons, Interim Head of Culture and Arts at QUB.