When air quality scientist turned filmmaker Dr Pete Knapp was an academic, he couldn’t have dreamed of a room full of people discussing his latest research. But his film about community projects has filled cinemas, lecture theatres, church halls and bookshops. Here he tells us why the film’s success has demonstrated how much more engaging and relatable an inspirational story can be.
The film is called Fires and Fascism and it shows some of the darker side of what causes the fires to start and spread: big business; organised crime; and far-right political agendas. It shows the role of historical fascist dictators, and how the fires are used to create scapegoats and fear today.
I wanted to make the film to start a dialogue about the role of community in a world of mounting division; and to inspire people by showing examples of groups proactively suppressing a growing threat. To me, the fires are just one example of many growing threats in society, and I was hoping the audience would take it as such.
This is exactly what has happened. The screening at Southsea Community Cinema on 20th November was very well attended and the conversation went straight into possible reasons for why people are drawn to Reform: the lacking sense of belonging and meaning; the rising feeling of insecurity and instability; growing hyper-individualisation; the role of news media, social media and AI; and the lack of connection with nature, politics, and community.
Conversation then led to examples of local community action groups, such as the Portsmouth Climate Choir and the Young Greens Portsmouth. We discussed the importance of making activism inclusive, and meeting people where they are rather than expecting people to come to us. We also defined community as a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging, whilst also rejecting hate speech and antisocial behaviour. We tried to separate the actions of an individual from the individual themselves.
The film may be about wildfires in southern Europe, but the conversation that follows has been so much more. It has inspired people that a better future is possible, and that there are ways to feel a sense of hope. But, most importantly, this hope comes from being active and creating a greater sense of community. This is what everyone wants, and I am pleased to see this film is serving as a catalyst.
Fires and Fascism is 57 minutes long and rated 12A. It is crowdfunded, independent, and non-profit. It was filmed for £3000 and made possible by generous support of scores of people providing free accommodation, food, and transport.
Next nearby screening: 23 Jan 2026, October Books, Southampton, 7pm
Instagram: fires_and_fascism
Email: peteknapp1@proton.me
Picture reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 licence.
