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DIRECT ACTION, dirs. Guillaume Cailleau and Ben Russell, France/Germany 2024, 212 mins., French with English subtitles
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Direct action is a strategy of protest that refers to when activists use immediate, non-mediated and hands-on methods to achieve a goal, such as public demonstrations and strikes.
For DIRECT ACTION, filmmakers Ben Russell and Guillaume Cailleau spent two years following a militant activist community known as ZAD, based in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, France. Made up of squatters, anarchists and farmers, ZAD – which translates as 'Zone of Defence' – come together to occupy land and block development projects, working towards a broader revolutionary vision of living in a way that addresses the climate crisis.
Composed of forty-one long takes and filmed over the course of two years, DIRECT ACTION takes the time to quietly assemble a powerful portrait of the movement, and the people involved through images of communal living, collective farming and eating.
The opening screening on Friday 21 March will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Ben Russell and Guillaume Cailleau.
For DIRECT ACTION, filmmakers Ben Russell and Guillaume Cailleau spent two years following a militant activist community known as ZAD, based in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, France. Made up of squatters, anarchists and farmers, ZAD – which translates as 'Zone of Defence' – come together to occupy land and block development projects, working towards a broader revolutionary vision of living in a way that addresses the climate crisis.
Composed of forty-one long takes and filmed over the course of two years, DIRECT ACTION takes the time to quietly assemble a powerful portrait of the movement, and the people involved through images of communal living, collective farming and eating.
The opening screening on Friday 21 March will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Ben Russell and Guillaume Cailleau.
Book tickets
06:45 pm
Fri, 21 Mar 2025
Cinema 1
02:15 pm
Sat, 22 Mar 2025
Cinema 2
02:15 pm
Sun, 23 Mar 2025
Cinema 2
04:10 pm
Tue, 25 Mar 2025
Cinema 2
04:10 pm
Wed, 26 Mar 2025
Cinema 2
06:40 pm
Thu, 27 Mar 2025
Cinema 2
Ticket information
- All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email
- For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.
Access information
Cinema 1
- Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
- We have 1 wheelchair allocated space with a seat for a companion
- All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
- These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
- Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
for the following requirements:
- We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
- Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email
Cinema 2
- Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
- All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
- These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
- Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
for the following requirements:
- We have a removable seat to create a wheelchair allocated space, please contact to organise this prior to the date and time of the screening
- We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
- Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email
All films are ad-free and 18+ unless otherwise stated, and start with a 10 min. curated selection of trailers.
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no. 236848.