These are just some of the ways to describe the four acclaimed and award-winning documentaries screening at Kombu Food Film Festival.

Unfolding over one day from 1pm on Saturday May 12, the team behind Bellingen’s central organic and wholefoods store is screening a four-course menu of films at Bellingen Memorial Hall.

Each film spotlights individuals, families and groups around the world who have devoted themselves to positive change in how we generate and responsibly harvest our food, now and into the future.

“We’ve selected films that offer solutions rather than highlight problems,” said Kombu owner-manager Kevin Doye. “That’s really important. They reveal what some of the problems are, but they’re also highlighting solutions and discussion points from which we can move forwards.”

The festival is free entry with optional gold coin donation, with any profits going to Kombu’s Church Street community garden.

Kevin said Kombu is running the event in order to bring the community together and experience the benefits of digesting on-screen information in collaborative group setting.

“Watching films – and particularly informative documentary films – in a collective environment is really powerful,” he said. “It can be a trigger for generating some real change – and feeling reassured that there’s a community of people who feel the same way on some of these issues.”

The program opens with Living The Change: Inspiring Stories For A Sustainable Future, which explores stories of people pioneering change in their own lives and in their communities to live in a sustainable way. https://livingthechangefilm.com/

Unbroken Ground, a film commissioned by Patagonia, highlights the story of four groups who are pioneers in regenerative agriculture, regenerative grazing, diversified crop development and restorative fishing. https://www.patagonia.com.au/pages/unbrokenground

The charming A Simpler Way: Crisis As Opportunity follows a community in Australia who explore a simpler way to live. The group build tiny houses, plant vegetable gardens, practise simple living, and discover the challenges of living in community. https://happenfilms.com/a-simpler-way/

The grand finale is Seed – winner of 14 awards including Best Cinematography at the United Nations Film Festival. As many irreplaceable seeds near extinction, Seed follows seed-keepers as they wage a David-and-Goliath battle against chemical seed companies, standing up for the very basics of our food supply.

This film is not just compelling for the issues it highlights – its artful depiction of seeds germinating like moving sculptures has dazzled audiences on the international film festival circuit. https://www.seedthemovie.com/

Kombu Film Food Festival 2018, Saturday May 12, 1pm – 8pm

Bellingen Memorial Hall, 35 Hyde Street Bellingen 

No booking required, free entry (gold coin donation). All films classified PG.