By Jeanie Finlay
All Rivers Spill Their Secrets (To the Sea)
All Rivers Spill Their Secrets (To the Sea)
An urgent, funny and tender feature documentary made in the North East of England, by Jeanie Finlay, in the place where she grew up (Please note – logline edited for privacy, full version available on logging in).
Section : Impact Days
Country : United Kingdom
Original language : English
Director
Jeanie Finlay (United Kingdom)Producers
Anke Petersen (Germany)Charlie Phillips (United Kingdom)
I am Charlie
JYOTI Film
Completion
August 2025
We want this to be a tool for local communities to understand they can articulate their own needs and demands for their ecosystem and economy, even in the face of the overwhelming power of Government and big industries.
Impact Goals
- Empowerment of coastal communities to protect their ecosystems in line with UN SDG6 - firstly, for the health of water and life in it. Secondly, to support the local economy depending on seas and rivers, especially the welfare of fishers. And that this process can unite people across political/cultural divides.
- Provide transferrable information on the reality of Freeports as implemented in the UK and provide a platform for alternative models for the regeneration of coastal and post-industrial communities.
- Combat corruption in decision-making, which leads to significant developments with little democratic oversight. Demand communities are an active part of decision-making over their future.
Impact Strategy
- Tour film around UK fishing towns/villages, showing it in non-traditional screening spaces, in partnership with Fishermans Mission welfare organisation and equivalents (this tour could be replicated outside the UK if funding is allowed). The tour can include screenings and exhibitions on fishing boats themselves.
- Work with grassroots political movements crossing social groupings, like the campaign on Teesside against the Freeport, in other UK locations. Take characters on tour to these communities to act as inspiration/provide information, including scientists.
- Screen film to politicians and journalists, local and national, to show them problems with Freeports specifically, and more generally, developments enacted with little to no transparency for local communities
- Potential for audience solidarity actions/stunts, e.g. linking arms for the sea.
Contact
Organisations
Fishermen’s Mission
North East Fishing Collective
Funders
Bertha Film Fund
BFI Doc Society
Chicken and Egg
Broadcasters
ARTE – In talks
Channel 4 / Film 4 – In talks
DR – Denmark
Organisations
Fishermen’s Mission
North East Fishing Collective
Funders
Bertha Film Fund
BFI Doc Society
Chicken and Egg
Broadcasters
ARTE – In talks
Channel 4 / Film 4 – In talks
DR – Denmark