“We wanted to show the importance of protest, the joy of it and what we can achieve when we work together”: Co-directors Maia Kenworthy and Elena Sánchez Bellot on Netflix documentary Rebellion

Rebellion is the new Netflix documentary from co-directors Maia Kenworthy and Elena Sánchez Bellot that takes a look behind the scenes of the phenomenal story of the environmental movement, Extinction Rebellion. With unique access to meetings and interviews with its founders and members, the film charts the group from its grassroots beginnings through to the unexpected impact of the events of April 2019 (when XR shut down London and convinced the government to declare a climate emergency) to the resulting aftermath and crisis of identity the collective suffered.

The Upcoming had a fascinating chat with the filmmakers about why they first wanted to make a documentary about Extinction Rebellion, not wanting to shy away from the messiness of the organisation and low points in its evolution – not only its successes – and how they hope the film has an inspiring message of taking action, despite increasingly tight rules on protest.

Sarah Bradbury

Rebellion is released nationwide on 18^th March 2022.

Watch the trailer for Rebellion here: