Experiencing Interruptions?

Race For The Future

The overwhelming scale of the climate crisis means most people bury their heads in the sand or succumb to paralysing anxiety. Inspired by how quickly children think the world can change, filmmaker and adventurer, James Levelle, quits his job, packs his bags and sets off on a 9000-mile fossil fuel free journey from the UK to Chile to document next generation perspectives on the climate crisis and deliver their video messages of hope and inspiration to the United National Climate Conference.

  • James Levelle
    Director
    ‘Valley of the Mummies’ – National Geographic Channel (4 x 1 hour), 2020. ‘Hurricane Man’ – BBC Worldwide & UKTV (8 x 1 hour), 2019. ‘Lost Treasure of the Maya’ – National Geographic Channel (4 x 1hour), 2019. ‘Free Ride’ – Discovery Channel (6 x 1 hour), 2016. ‘Crimes Against Nature’ (Eco Crime Investigators) – National Geographic Channel (3 x 1 hour), 2011.
  • James Levelle
    Key Cast
    ‘Hurricane Man’ – BBC Worldwide & UKTV (8 x 1 hour), 2019. 'Gold Rush: Parker's Trail' - Discovery Channel (4 x1hr) 2017. ‘Free Ride’ – Discovery Channel (6 x 1 hour), 2016.
  • Daniel Sharp
    Producer
    Top Gear America, Plane Crash Recreated, Disasters Engineered, Ray Winstone in Sicily, The Million Pound Holiday Club
  • Sam Cryer
    Producer
    She Will, Disasters Engineered, Mari
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Adventure, environment, climate, activism, social
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 24 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Argentina, Cape Verde, Chile, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Beyond Rights
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - James Levelle

James’s greatest passion is to explore the world in ways that challenges assumptions and changes perspectives. He does this by undertaking daring journeys full of unexpected stories that amaze and inspire.

He has trekked into the frozen wilds of Alaska for Discovery Channel’s hit series, ‘Gold Rush Trail’ (2017), and risked life and limb living through the world’s most deadly weather for the BBC & UKTV’s ‘Hurricane Man’ (2019).

For Discovery’s 6-part series, ‘Free Ride’ (2016), James hitchhiked his way 6000 miles across South America with no mobile phone, no credit card and no money whatsoever which tested his survival skills and ingenuity to the limit but more than that it showcased the extraordinary kindness of strangers who repeatedly helped him on his way.

In 'Race For The Future' James leads the world’s first fossil fuel free adventure on a mission to see the climate crisis through the eyes of the next generation, and find extraordinary people leading the way with local solutions to the environmental issues we face.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This documentary project was conceived to tell the climate story from the perspective of young people who are struggling to make their voices heard. They want systemic change, but many are too young to even vote. The film is a journey into their world to understand what these children, who’s future is most at stake, think about the climate and Nature crisis, what they want adult generations to do about it and how they're finding way to take action on their own terms.