Final Straw’s directors Patrick Lydon and Suhee Kang toured the film extensively throughout Japan and Korea in 2015 and 2016, screening the film over 120 times. Like the film itself, the tour was entirely self-produced with our small team and with the help of communities and activist groups who volunteered throughout the regions we toured. The Japan tour was managed in-house by our co-producer, Kaori Tsuji, the Korean tour managed by our co-director, Suhee Kang, and community arts events were managed by co-director Patrick Lydon.
The tour was more than simply about screening the film. Our work included producing dozens of interactive projects, community workshops, arts projects, symposiums, cooking events, building gardens, and multiple-month stays as artists-in-residence in cities around the world. We even opened a conceptual community restaurant called REALtimeFOOD, which gained considerable attention and has since been replicated and produced by multiple community and nonprofit organizations. All of this was truly an amazing journey.
This journey was also physically and mentally strenuous work for our small team to pull off, but at the same time it was immensely rewarding to see audiences inspired by the film, and to see the beautiful works of social and ecological wellness that are happening in cities, towns, and neighborhoods around this earth. Truly, in meeting so many people around the world who are concerned about our contemporary lifestyles, we realized that there are many many more amazing acts of love, compassion, and community togetherness happening in this world than we could have imagined! Certainly, far more than you see in the news.
The film’s grassroots popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s been translated into seven languages (English, Korean, Japanese, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Turkish, with others in progress) and continues to enjoy community screenings and events held regularly around the world.
Although we sometimes travel to events when invited, we are on a break from touring the film, and have transitioned our efforts to the City as Nature art and media lab, and to building and operating a space in Osaka called The Branch, where we continue to produce writing, short films, eco-artwork, and workshops, all in the spirit of the film.
Final Straw Screening Dates
A list of screenings (both official and independently organized) is below. If you’d like to host your own community screening, please visit our Screening Kit for more information.
*denotes an official event where one of the film’s directors or producers will be in attendance
2020
- 25 January / Eski Beirut / Bornava, Turkey
- 12 February / Seasoned Spoon / Ontario, Canada
- 20 February / Williams Garange / Oregon, United States
18 March / RISC & Reading Food Growing Network / United Kingdom[postponed due to COVID-19]- 25 October / Grow Wilder Cinema, co-sponsored by The Wildlife Trusts and CUBE Microplex / Bristol, United Kingdom
17-31 October / Echo·Dutch Film Week sponsored by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Guangzhou and C-PLATFORM, at Lucitopia Creative Center / Xiamen, China[canceled due to COVID-19]
2019
- 10 February / incrEDiBLE / Kangaroo Valley, Australia
- 15 March / The Japan Foundation (Chikyu Films) / Toronto, Canada
- 8 April / Filmkväll / Pargas, Finland
- 19 April / After-work Film / Åbo/Turku, Finland
- 15 April / The Japan Foundation (Chikyu Films) / Toronto, Canada
- 21 April / Rock Spring Branch / Carrboro, NC, United States
- 24 May / International Nature Film Festival / Gödöllő, Hungary (short)
- 22 June / Space Z • სივრცე ზეტი / Tbilisi, Georgia
- 27 July / Hankyu (Asia Book Market) / Osaka, Japan*
- 15 August / Green Initiatives / Shanghai, China
- 22-25 August / Strano Film Festival / Abruzzo, Italy
- 7 September / UK National Permaculture Convergence / Oxford, United Kingdom
- 14 September / Warsaw Community Gardens Festival / Warsaw, Poland
- 11 October / Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival / Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (short)
- 19 November / The Other Side / Utica, New York, United States
- December / Lexus Korea / Gangnam, Seoul, Korea*
2018
- 21 April / n’sin cafe / Antalya, Turkey
- May / City Art Center (within the Robert Callender exhibition) / Edinburgh, Scotland
- 19 December / MUJI Flagship Store / Sakai (Kitahanada), Japan*
2017
- 8 June 2017 / 6:30 PM / Jean’s Urban Farm / Portland, Oregon*
- 27 May 2017 / East Asia Global Citizen’s Gathering / Fujino, Japan*
- 28 May 2017 / East Asia Global Citizen’s Gathering / Fujino, Japan*
2016 Official Tour Dates
11/23 — Kamiyama, Japan | WEEK
11/20 — Shioya-Kobe | Flag
7/24 — Fife, Scotland | Falkland Centre for Stewardship
6/26 — Yokohama, Japan | Ninja House
6/25 — Zushi, Japan | Cinema Amigo
6/24 — Odawara, Japan | Citizen Exchange Center UMECO
6/22 — Tokyo, Japan | Earth Cafe OHANA
6/21 — Tokyo, Japan | JAM House
6/20 — Yubari, Japan | Kogumaza Cafe
6/19 — Ishikari, Japan | Ecovillage Life Experience
6/18 — Ebetsu, Japan | Drama Theater Domo
6/17 — Iwamizawa, Japan | Yorokobi no Yakata
6/16 — Sapporo, Japan | Fair Trade Hokkaido
6/15 — Sobetsu, Japan | Toya Chihana
6/14 — Sunagawa, Japan | Regional Exchange Center
6/12 — Kobe, Japan | Marmelo Kitchen Lab
6/11 — Nara, Japan | Kaze no Sumika “Rush of Wind”
6/9 — Tokamachi, Japan | Tokamachi Industry and Craft Center ‘Ikote’
6/8 — Kashiwazaki, Japan | Community Center
6/7 — Joetsu, Japan | Iwaki
6/6 — Niigata, Japan | Kacha Kacha
6/5 — Nagaoka, Japan | Satoyama House
6/4 — Kobe, Japan | Farm House Cafe
6/3 — Shiga, Japan | Aito Center + Base for Rest
5/30 — Okinawa, Japan | Miyabi Cafe
5/29 — Buffalo, New York (USA) | SOLE of Buffalo**
5/28 — Okinawa, Japan | Cafe Garamajaku
5/26 — Okinawa, Japan | Rice Beat
5/23 — Oita City, Japan | City Arts Center
5/22 — Bepu City Oita, Japan | Nikoniko Village
5/21 — Itoshima, Japan | Health Care Center Agura
5/20 — Fukuoka City, Japan | Cafe Airwa
5/18 — Hiroshima, Japan | Ichido Al monde
5/13 — Aichi, Japan | Tokoname
5/12 — Nagoya, Japan | Aichi University of Art
5/11 — Nagoya, Japan | Organic Gallery
5/10 — Nagoya, Japan | Tribal Arts
5/3 — Osaka, Japan | Air Osaka Movie Night
4/30 — Osaka, Japan | Cafe MOMO
4/29 — Osaka, Japan | Paradi Tereste
4/29 — Osaka, Japan | Minnanouen Urban Farm
4/25 — Takamatsu, Japan | Tsurukame
4/24 — Tokushima, Japan | Byodoji Temple
4/22 — Kobe, Japan | Round Point Cafe
4/21 — Kyoto, Japan | SUA Tibetan Medicine
4/20 — Kobe, Japan | Sharehouse Warai
4/8 — Seoul, Korea | Sungmisan Community Theater
4/7 — Iksan, Korea | Community Media Center
4/5 — Changwon, Korea | Hansalim Gyeongnam Community
4/2 — Jinju, Korea | Soso bookstore
4/1 — Busan, Korea | Busan Coop
3/27 — Pohang, Korea | Snail Books & Tea
3/26 — Yeongju, Korea | Yeongju Culture Art Center
3/22 — Seoul, Korea | Eunpyung Community Restaurant
3/20 — Yongin, Korea | Gogi Church
2/22 — Berkeley (CA), USA | Pre-Screening (Japanese)
2/17 — Saratoga (CA), USA | Pre-Screening (Japanese)
2/16 — San Jose (CA), USA | Backwater Arts
2/15 — Oakland (CA), USA | PLACE for Sustainable Living
Unless noted, all 2015 dates include a post screening talk with the film’s directors.
Dates for the Japan tour should be verified on the Japan Facebook Group.
2015 Official Tour Dates
12/15 — Gimpo, Korea | ‘Green Review’ Reading Meeting *
12/14 — Seoul, Korea | Pulmoojil Bookstore *
12/12 — Chungnam, Korea | Hongseong Nature and Agriculture Exchange *
12/9 — Seoul, Korea | Takeaway Drawing Space *
12/2 — Seoul, Korea | Space ‘Lan’ *
12/1 — Okcheon, Korea | Baebau Community Center *
11/30 — Geomsan, Korea | Byulebyulkkol Sustainability Center *
11/29 — Hamyang Korea | Green University*
11/26 — Sunchang, Korea | Community Support Center *
11/24 — Seoul, Korea | Seoul Youth Hub
11/23 — Seoul, Korea | Bindohae hair Salon
11/22 — Seoul, Korea | Slow Food Asia Pacific International Festival
11/19 — Seoul, Korea | Geomam Community Pub
11/18 — Seoul, Korea | Garden Depot
11/16 — Jeju, Korea | Stone Culture Park
11/16 — Jeju, Korea | Gangjeong Peace Center
11/15 — Jeju, Korea | Cafe Gasi
11/14 — Jeju, Korea | Jeju Art Scenic
11/13 — Choennam, Korea | Goheung Green Party
11/12 — Jangheung, Korea | Youth Center
11/11 — Jinan, Korea | Community Center
11/11 — Damyang, Korea | Apricot Tree Nursery
11/10 — Wanju, Korea | Wanju Community Space
11/9 — Seoul, Korea | Cafe Sukara
11/8 — Daegu, Korea | City Agricultural Network
11/5 — Seoul, Korea | Haebangchon Cafe
10/29 — Seoul, Korea | Space Station Gathering
10/28 — Daejeon, Korea | Joongchon Community Library
10/27 — Busan, Korea | Green University
10/26 — Busan, Korea | Cafe Sanbok St.
10/25 — Yangsan, Korea | Blooming Flowers Free School
10/22 — Seoul, Korea | Value Garden
10/17 — Seoul, Korea | Urban Agricultural Festival
10/15 — Paldang, Korea | Dumulmeori Cafe
10/13 — Seoul, Korea | Gildam Bookstore
10/10 — Suwon, Korea | Urban Citizen’s Farm
10/8 — Seoul, Korea | Cafe Seongsu
10/7 — Seoul, Korea | Eum Bookstore
9/24 — Seoul, Korea | Space Soom
9/22 — Seoul, Korea | MAKSA (PlaceMAK)
9/14 — Seoul, Korea | ROGPA cafe
Unless noted, all 2015 dates include a post screening talk with the film’s directors.
—
* Only Suhee Kang will be present at this screening
** Directors will be ‘virtually’ present by video chat or pre-recorded video address
Explore More at Final Straw
What is Natural farming?
While techniques and methods vary widely, natural farmers share common roots in re-connecting themselves and their farming processes to the Earth, and cultivating food that inherently regenerates the health of the natural world—and of humanity.
About the Film
Inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka, and the book The One Straw Revolution, the film weaves together meditative landscapes, an eclectic original soundtrack, and inspiring stories from some of the world’s foremost figures in the natural farming movement.