Join us to uncover the life and ideas of radical biologist Lynn Margulis in Symbiotic Earth - a riveting exploration of Margulis's revolutionary theories, challenging the conventional understanding of evolution and offering a profound new perspective on the web of life. Through captivating storytelling and stunning visuals, this documentary invites us to reconsider our relationship with the Earth and all its inhabitants.

Whether you're a science enthusiast, a lover of nature, interested in uncovering the hidden women of science or simply someone curious about the mysteries of life, Symbiotic Earth promises to enlighten, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations about our place in the cosmos.

WHAT IS MIND FOOD FILMS?

Mind Food Films is a series of film screenings from the Permaculture Education Institute. All films screened have been picked to be food for thought - expanding your ideas of the world we know is possible and delving into the various aspects of systems thinking.

Films in this series:

Regenerating Life - how to cool the planet, feed the world, and live happily ever after!
- 8 May 9am AEST (America time-friendly)
- 8 May 7pm AEST (Europe/Asia/Africa time-friendly)

ABOUT THE FILM

Symbiotic Earth is the story of a scientific rebel. A model of female empowerment, Lynn Margulis fought the male establishment and, through her persistence, triumphed. As a young scientist in the 1960s, Margulis was ridiculed when she articulated a theory that symbiosis was a key driver of evolution. Instead of the mechanistic view that life evolved solely through random genetic mutations and competition, she presented a symbiotic narrative in which bacteria joined together to create the complex cells that formed animals, plants, and all other organisms. The idea that all of life is deeply interconnected and collaborative has radical implications for how we look at our selves, evolution, and the environment.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Feldman’s career spans over 40 years and covers a wide range of genres, from independent dramatic feature films and documentaries, to experimental, educational, and business films. His films have won numerous international awards. Feldman’s current film Regenerating Life looks at the climate crisis from an ecological perspective. Prior to this he made Symbiotic Earth (2018), a documentary about the maverick scientist Lynn Margulis, which combines his lifelong passions for filmmaking and the natural sciences. Since 2005 he has focused on making documentaries in the arts and sciences including EVO: Ten Questions Everyone Should Ask about Evolution (2011, CINE Golden Eagle; Parents Choice Award); Energy and You: Renewable Resources and Innovative Solutions (2009, commissioned by San Diego County Office of Education); The Little Plant that Could IS BACK (2013, about a community-based hydroelectric plant); and video portraits of Jessye Norman, Ming Cho Lee, Helen Frankenthaler, and Merce Cunningham (2007, commissioned for the Nelson A. Rockefeller Awards). His earlier feature fiction films include Alligator Eyes (1990, first prize at the San Sebastian International Film Festival), Dead Funny (1995), and Who the Hell is Bobby Roos? (2002, “New American Cinema Award” at Seattle International Film Festival).

THIS IS A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT - WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY?

Whilst all MIND FOOD FILMS are free events, we do warmly welcome your generous donation. We always send 100% of all donations received via our registered charity, Ethos Foundation. Any donation received from this event will go towards refugee-led permaculture, ecosystems-regeneration, regenerative, ecoliteracy and well-being programs led by women and youth in refugee settlements across East Africa. Many of the recipients we work with each month, are part of the Permaculture Education Institute's programs and perhaps could be watching these films alongside you.

HOST: MORAG GAMBLE, PERMACULTURE EDUCATION INSTITUTE

ABOUT MORAG GAMBLE

Morag Gamble is the founder of the Permaculture Education Institute teaching permaculture educators and designers on six continents. She has lived for a quarter of a century in an award-winning ecovillage and has taught at leading ecological learning centres such as Schumacher College. She works closely with Fritjof Capra, Stephan Harding, Nora Bateson and others featured in these films.

Morag is host of the Sense-Making in a Changing World Podcast, and the Our Permaculture Life BLOG and YouTube collectively viewed over 10 million times. Morag also leads the Ethos Fellowship - a 6-month youth ecoliteracy and leadership program, and the Ethos Foundation - a registered charity offering free permaculture education for refugees.

SPONSOR: PERMACULTURE EDUCATION INSTITUTE

ABOUT THE SPONSOR

Permaculture Education Institute, based at Crystal Waters Ecovillage on Gubbi Gubbi country, offers programs to support people worldwide to become teachers of permaculture and to activate permaculture communities. The Institute hosts regular global conversations exploring one-planet living and earth restoration - through film, podcasts, masterclasses, discussion forums and many courses.