Film

“Change the system, not the climate" is a common demand in the climate movement. But what kind of system do we actually want? In our documentary Outgrow the System you will meet the new economic perspectives that have the potential to change the world at its core.

The original meaning of the word ”economy” is "household management”. The economy of today however, is not householding, but rather consuming our finite natural resources at an alarming pace. The film "Outgrow the System" explores how we can return to the essence of the term and design an economic system that genuinely manages our scarce resources.

Beyond the narrow mainstream debate and the teachings of business schools, numerous new economic ideas and practices are emerging. They challenge old assumptions and offer fresh perspectives on how we can reorganize our production and consumption, in order to ensure our survival as a species on this planet.

We were honoured to recieve Le Prix Public Eye at the opening ceremony of the 20th Film Festival du Vert. Especially since The Public Eye does important work for global justice in the world, and feel proud about their bold motivation for giving us the award:
“This year, the Swedish film ‘Outgrow the System’ by Cecilia Paulsson and Anders Nilsson stood out from the crowd. We have awarded it because we feel it is particularly important to develop alternative economic development models capable of replacing the deadly capitalism we are aiming for. A system that seems to consider the planet's resources to be infinite and perceives nature as an externality at the service of the economy.

‘Outgrow the system’ is a kind of toolbox. It gives a voice to researchers and economists who, far from being utopians or ideologues, reflect on other concepts and practices in the field of economic development. This is very relevant to Public Eye: our investigative and advocacy NGO whose mission is to denounce the predatory business model of Swiss-based companies and multinationals, which is solely profit-oriented and has very little respect for human rights and good governance.”

We are also greatful to be part of Film Festival du Vert that will give the mission of the film more attention by screening "Outgrow the system" in 15 cities in France and Switzerland during the festival.

Reviews
"This provocative and illuminating film asks the right questions: Why can't we stop the destruction of planet earth? Why do we have so much poverty in the midst of plenty? Why can't we prioritize well-being over corporate profits? Why hasn't economic growth allowed us to shorten the workweek? If economics is all about managing scarce resources, why aren't we economizing on resource use? Outgrow the System details alternative approaches to an economics that face up to the immense and complex challenges humanity faces."

L. Randall Wray, Professor and Senior Scholar, Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, Author, A Great Leap Forward: Heterodox Economic Policy for the 21st Century

"Our current economic system needs to change fundamentally in order to safeguard human and planetary wellbeing. With a skillful integration of economic theory and real-world practice, Outgrow the System gives us concrete, actionable ideas for implementing change."

Laura Schmitt Olabisi, Professor of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University

"Outgrow the System bluntly recognizes that the global, capitalist economy is both failing to serve people's needs and ruining the very ecological systems that life depends on. It presents alternative economic and governance approaches that seek to redress these failings and succeeds in making these economic theories accessible to all. This film encourages us to question the status quo. We can be less intimidated by the complexity of the system and the powerful few controlling it."

Tanja Srebotnjak, Director, Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives, Williams College

"In compelling interviews with leading scholar-activists, artfully interspersed with illustrative images, Outgrow the System convincingly explains how our current economic system has lost the way. This film offers a compelling vision of a far more desirable destination we can reach: a democratic economy dedicated to the mutual flourishing of all humans in harmony with the natural systems that sustain us."

Joshua Farley, Professor in Community Development and Applied Economics and Public Administration, University of Vermont, Co-author, Ecological Economics, Principles and Applications

"This visionary film reviews a variety of approaches to achieving the social transformation necessary to preserve the earth's ecosystems, and what kind of transformation. It offers a valuable complement to courses on the Anthropocene and international environmental politics."

Peter M. Haas, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Co-author, Global Environmental Governance

"Outgrow the System is a thought-provoking documentary that questions the very foundations of our current economic model and asks what a truly sustainable economy could look like. It showcases bold ideas from around the world that challenge old assumptions and offer fresh paths toward an equitable, resource-wise future."

Maya Kocian, Executive Director, Earth Economics

"Whether one agrees or disagrees with the perspective presented in this film, the presentation provides economic students with a great opportunity to develop critical thinking skills. I would ask students to contrast its message with the analysis in my book, The Behavioral Economics and Politics of Climate Change and to compare the ideas in the film with the writings of Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, and Karl Marx, as well as the historical economic experiences of China, the Soviet Union, and Cuba."

Hersh Shefrin, Mario L. Belotti Professor of Finance, Santa Clara University

"Outgrow the System offers a compelling and accessible overview of why - and how - we must transform our economy to serve both people and the planet. It is a powerful reminder that meaningful economic change is not only necessary, but entirely possible. Ideal for community organizations and educational settings, this film sparks vital conversations and inspires creative solutions as we move toward a more sustainable, relationship-centered economy."

Valerie Luzadis, Professor of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Founder, Heart Forward Science

Articles/blog posts

Article in Supermiljöbloggen (In Swedish)

Blog post, Kiwis in Climate, from Amsterdam screening

Article in Syre (In Swedish) https://tidningensyre.se/2024/02-augusti-2024/filmare- soker-alternativ-till-kapitalismen/

Article in Grus & Guld (In Swedish) https://www.jak.se/grusoguld/vi-behover-kanslan-av-hopp-inte-av-hopploshet/

Article in Idealtid (In Norwegian)

FESTIVALS & AWARDS

• Public Eye Award at Festival du Film Vert 2025 (Switzerland), EkoFilm 2023 (Czech Republic), Greenmotions Film festival 2023 (Germany), Green Screen Film Festival 2023 (Trinidad & Tobago), uMgungundlovu Film Festival 2023 (South Africa), CineMaking International Film Festival 2023 (Bangladesh), Nordic Labour Film Festival 2023 (Sweden), Cambodia International Film Festival 2024 (Cambodia), Waiheke Collective Film Festival 2024 (New Zealand), Innsbruck Nature Film Festival 2024 (Austria), Lilla Film Festival 2024 (Sweden), Paragraf 112 Festival 2024 (Norway), Luleå International Film Festival 2024 (Sweden), Frome International Climate Film Festival 2025 (UK), Terra Doc Festival International du Film sur La Terre 2025 (France), Blue Planet Future Festival BPFF 2025 (South Korea), BNP Paribas Green Film Festival 2025 (Poland). Matsalu Nature Film Festival (MAFF) 2025 September 24 to 28 in (Lihula, Estonia). All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2025 Dec 4 - Dec 14 (India). The Science Film Festival 2025 taking place in 20 countries from October 1 to December 20

TV-channels, streaming etc:

PBS So Cal, USA https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/outgrow-the-system

TVP Poland

Bullfrog Films USA https://bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/out.html

Upcoming screenings

2025-08-13 Krakow Poland. BNP Paribas Green Film Festival

2025-08-23 &25 Busan, South Korea. Blue Planet future festival

2025-08-30 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

2025-09-25 Norrköping, Sweden. Marieborg

2025-10-11 & 12 Innsbruck, Austria. Insbruck Nature Film Festival

2025-11-05 Uppsala, Sweden. Fair Trade Återförsäljarna

2025-11-18 Örebro, Sweden. Naturskyddsföreningen

2025-12-4 India, All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2025 Dec 4 - Dec 14

Previous screenings

2023-10-07 World Premiere at EKOFILM festival in Brno, Chezch Republic

2023-11-04 Swedish Premiere at Nordic Labour Film Festival, Malmö, Sweden

2023-11-05-2023-11-10 Green Screen Film Festival, Trinidad & Tobago

2023-11-09 Greenmotions, Freiburg, Germany

2023-11-24 – 2023-11-26 uMgungundlovu Film Festival, Pitermaritzburg, South Africa

2023-11-24 Screening in Årsta Folkets hus, Stockholm, Sweden, as part of a WEAll Sweden event

2023-12-09 Screening at Navet, Malmö, Sweden

2023-12-15 Screening at Bio Sågen, Svensköp, Sweden

2024-01-22 Screening in Malmö, Sweden, Panora 18:00, organized by Miljöpartiet Malmö

2024-02-01 Screening in Singapore, organized by Post-growth Singapore.

2024-02-06 Lunch screening in Malmö, Glokala Folkhögskolan

2024-02-08 Screening in Cape Town, South Africa, Workshop 17, Kloof

2024-02-10 Screening in Göteborg, Sweden, Hagabion kl 15:00

2024-02-17 Screening in Lisbon, Portugal

2024-02-26 - 2024-02-29 Cinemaking International Film Festival, Dhaka, Bangladesh

2024-03-05 Screening in Wellington, New Zealand

2024-03-05 Screening in Kahler, Luxembourg. Facebook event here.

2024-03-15 Double Screening in Stockholm, Sweden, Filmcentrum Riks

2024-03-15 Melbourne, Australia, Degrowth Australia.

2024-03-28 Kelowna, Canada, Okanagan Climate Hub, Okanagan coLab (Community Lab)

2024-03-31 Sydkoster, Sweden, with Tillsammansodlingen and Naturum

2024-04-04 Screening for Master Students at University of Liège, Belgium

2024-04-05 Dumfries, Scotland, The Stove Network

2024-04-09 Leiden, Netherlands, SHIFT

2024-04-10 Fribourg, Switzerland, Sustainability Week

2024-04-10 Lisbon, Portugal, Forward College

2024-04-11 Auckland, New Zeeland, Degrowth Aotearoa, WEAll Aotearoa

2024-04-11 Graz, Austria, oikos International.

2024-04-14 Bergen, Norway, Ocean Week, University of Bergen

2024-04-16 Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, Sustainable HB

2024-04-23 Prescott, US, Green Mountain Center for Sustainability at Prescott College

2024-04-22 University screening, Odense, Denmark.

2024-04-11 - 2024-04-27 Motueka, New Zealand, Ghecko Theatre (multiple screenings)

2024-04-25 Visby, Sweden, Uppsala University Campus Gotland

2024-04-26 - 2024-05-02 Göteborg, Sweden, Hagabion

2024-04-29 Canberra, Australia, Australian National University

2024-05-01 Cologne, Germany

2024-05-01 Amsterdam, Netherlands

2024-05-02 Christchurch, New Zealand, Degrowth Otautahi

2024-05-03 Roskilde, Denmark, RUC

2024-05-05 Malmö, Sweden, Krakel

2024-05-05 Singapore, Singapore, Post-growth Singapore

2024-05-06 Washington, DC, USA, Extinction Rebellion DC and the Heinrich Boell Foundation

2024-05-13 Ölands folkhögskola

2024-05-12 Köln, Germany, 2ndish

2024-05-13 Bridport, UK, United Diversity Bridport

2024-05-14 Göteborg, Sweden, Bio Roy, Miljöpartiet

2024-05-14 Tauranga, New Zealand, Sustainable Bay of Plenty Trust

2024-05-17 Chicago, US, Alliance For Just Money

2024-05-18 Climate Festival, Tomelilla, Sweden.

2024-05-28 Covilhã, Portugal, Rede para o Decrescimento (Portugal) e CooLabora

2024-05-30 Brussels, Belgium, Samen Action

2024-06-01 Prague, Czech republic, Degrowth day

2024-06-01 Brno, Czech republic, Degrowth day

2024-06-03 Hamburg, Germany, Doughnut Coalition Hamburg

2024-06-05 Johannesburg, South Africa, WEAll & Animarem

2024-06-10 Whakatane, New Zealand, Sustainable Bay of Plenty

2024-06-12 Belgrade, Serbia, Zajedičko

2024-06-20 Brussels, Belgium, The Shift

2024-06-24 Buxton, Derbyshire, UK, Transition Buxton

2024-06-27 Incheon, South Korea, Green Climate Fund

2024-06-28 Copenhagen, Denmark, Oikos Copenhagen

2024-07-03 Leipzig, Germany

2024-07-06 Berlin, Germany. Kulturlabor Trial & Error

2024-07-18 Berlin, Germany, C*SPACE Berlin

2024-07-21 Malmö Screening, Ärtholmens koloniområde

2024-07-24 Panama City, Panama, Corredor Creativo, PASOS - Panamá Sostenible

2024-07-30 Vienna, Austria, Votivkino, Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems summer university.

2024-08-01 Båstad, Sweden, Lilla filmfestivalen

2024-08-14 Da Nang, Vietnam, Vcil Community

2024-08-17 Waiheke Island, New Zealand, Waiheke Collective Film Festival

2024-08-25 Sydney, Australia, Regen Australia

2024-08-28 Toronto, Canada

2024-08-29 Bath, UK, BIEN congress

2024-08-30 Skenora Gård, Sweden, Hylla Myllan-Filmpub

2024-09-07 Istanbul, Turkey, IPPEE

2024-09-07 Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, Vcil Community

2024-09-07 Birmingham, UK, Civiq Square

2024-09-11 Skellefteå, Sweden, Extinction Rebellion

2024-09-12 Landskrona bibliotek, Sweden

2024-09-17 Utrecht University, Netherlands

2024-09-18 Fredrikstad, Norway, Paragraf 112

2024-09-24 Helsinki, Finland, Dodo, Urban Dinner

2024-09-26 Norrtälje, Sweden, Hållbarhetsdagen

2024-10-01 Lausanne, Switzerland, Cinéclub des Durabilistes, Université de Lausanne

2024-10-03 Gävle, Sweden, Omställning Gävle m.fl.

2024-10-05 Timișoara, Romania, La Pas festival

2024-10-09 - 2024-10-13 Innsbruck Nature Film Festival, Austria

2024-10-09 Antwerpen, Belgium, KDG University

2024-10-11 Kungsbacka, Sweden, Filmfrukost

2024-10-15 Bremen, Germany, KlimaWerkStadt & Greenpeace

2024-10-17 Porto, Portugal

2024-10-18 Kristianstad, Sweden, Naturskyddsföreningen, Extinction Rebellion & Fridays for future

2024-10-20 Dresden, Germany, Political Art Days

2024-10-21 Ustí nad Labem, Czech Republic, Hraničář Gallery

2024-10-22 Lisbon, Portugal, Lisbon School of Economics and Management

2024-10-22 Malmö, Sweden, Klimataktion, ABF & Återställ Våtmarker

2024-10-25 Stockholm, Sweden, Sthlm Södra Filmfest

2024-11-03 Online Chinese Screening

2024-11-05 Oslo, Norway, Nettverket Smultringøkonomi Norge

2024-11-07 Wageningen, Netherlands, Degrowth Wageningen

2024-11-07 Zürich, Switzerland, Global Donut Day

2024-11-08 Oslo, Norway, Foreningen Robust

2024-11-08 Stavanger, Norway, Spire

2024-11-09 Kristiansand, Norway, Spire

2024-11-09 Helsinki, Finland, Pietari Kalmin katu 1 clubroom, 19:00

2024-11-11 Wageningen, Netherlands, National Climate Week

2024-11-13 Helsingborg, Sweden, Studiefrämjandet

2024-11-15 Portland, US, Extinction Rebellion

2024-11-15 Bucharest, Romania, Lumea Trifoi

2024-11-19 Bergen, Norway, Spire

2024-11-19 Vancouver, Canada, Capilano University

2024-11-20 Ockelbo, Sweden, RioBio, Tankesmedjan Ockelbo Facebookevent here

2024-11-20 Holma folkhögskola, Sweden

2024-11-22 Toronto, Canada, York University

2024-11-25 Trondheim, Norway, Spire

2024-11-26 Innsbruck, Austria, Innsbruck University

2024-11-28 Höör, Sweden, Naturskyddsföreningen

2024-11-29 Hanar, Norway, Spire

2024-12-05 Oslo University, Norway, Green Office. Facebook event

2024-12-08 Stockholm, Sweden, Nätverket Fred och Klimaträttvisa

2024-12-09 Norrköping, Sweden, Cnema & Naturskyddsföreningen Facebook event here

2024-12-09 Bremen, Germany, KleiderTausch Pop Up

2024-12-10 Göteborg, Sweden, Ta tillbaka framtiden

2024-12-13 Olomouc, Czech Republic, Vintage Market Olomouc

2024-12-17 Copenhagen, Denmark, University of Copenhagen

2024-12-19 Civitanova Marche, Italy, Multiple org.

2024-12-22 Shanghai, China, Earth Theatre

2025-01-16 Fribourg, Switzerland, Young Green Party

2025-01-22 Trondheim, Norway, Naturvernforbundet, Facebook event

2025-01-29 Niederanven, Luxembourg, Boost Lokal

2025-02-19 Lund, Sweden, Ariman, Fridays for future

2025-02-20 Hamburg, Germany, Green Party

2025-02-21 Gällivare, Sweden, Naturskyddsföreningen

2025-03-02 Ystad, Sweden

2025-03-02 Tomelilla, Sweden

2025-03-07 Madison, Wisconsin, USA, @ 7pm, First Unitarian Society

2025-03-01 - 2025-04-13 Festival du Film Vert, Switzerland and Italy, various locations!5

2025-03-20 Tokyo, Japan, University of Tokyo

2025-03-20 Unnaryd, Sweden

2025-03-20 Tromsø, Norway, Naturvernforbundet

2025-04-27 + 2025-05-03 Taipei, Taiwan, Climate Tipping Points Film Festival

2025-05-06 Lund, Sweden, Lund Sustainability Forum

2025-05-08 Frankfurt, Germany, Senckenberg institute