Launched in 2023 as part of Climate Spring’s early-stage development offering, The Hot House: Shorts aims to inspire, incentivise and support content makers to explore impactful and original climate stories for mainstream audiences. The programme also aims to contribute to addressing the glaring absence of the climate crisis in scripted film and TV.

This year’s winning project, There Will Come Soft Rains, will receive a £10,000 production award, alongside development and executive producer support, as well as sustainable production guidance and certification from Green Screen to produce the film.

Co-written by award-winning director Elham Ehsas and actor Sam Perry, and produced by Lorraine Bhattachary, There Will Come Soft Rains follows protagonist Mira, who, haunted by rising sea levels, defies tradition and her Muslim faith to dig up her father’s grave. While leading Mira on a collision course with the authorities, faith and family, the story also emphasises the power of unity, forgiveness and second chances, both in saving ourselves and our planet.

Josh Cockcroft, Co-Director of Climate Spring, said: “We’re thrilled to award our inaugural The Hot House: Shorts production grant to There Will Come Soft Rains. We’re immensely proud to be supporting the talented team behind this project in bringing this story to life. Our industry and its diverse and creative storytellers have a unique role to play in shaping the narratives and perceptions of ongoing climate conversations. At Climate Spring, we’re committed to harnessing the storytelling power of the screen to open up new and inspiring perspectives on the climate crisis, and to provide a platform for diverse human stories about how we can navigate through this collective challenge together. Through The Hot House: Shorts we wish to support those currently under-represented in the screen industries to create powerful content that shifts the often all too dystopian and technical climate narratives, whilst inspiring action and meaningful change.”

Lesley Marr, Sustainability and Business Development Director at NXTGEN BPS, said: “We are so excited about this project and can’t wait to support the production with our zero emission battery generators, solar panels and smart metres to capture power usage on set. There Will Come Soft Rains, is a brilliant, emotive project to highlight climate change and contribute to a much-needed increase of climate stories on our screens. NXTGEN BPS is working hard with the film and TV industry to change the culture of how we power studios and locations to move away from harmful emissions produced by diesel and transition to new ways of working with our beautiful power solutions. We support the development of new and under-represented talent in our industry as part of our core values as an organisation, so we are super proud to be supporting this project.”

Laurence Johnson, Sustainability Manager of Film London, said: ‘’We are absolutely delighted that There Will Come Soft Rains has won the Hot House: Shorts competition! At Film London, we know that human induced climate breakdown is not just a problem of science, it is a problem of communication. Therefore, as storytellers, the filmmaking community must urgently come together to find new, meaningful ways to portray this shared challenge. Not only do we need stories which our communities can relate to, we need new perspectives which do not shy away from the challenges we face, whilst offering optimism and in turn, helping to drive climate action. There Will Come Soft Rains is a wonderful example which acknowledges real issues, but offers agency and urgency to bring about vital change.’’

Paul Evans, Founder of Greenshoot said: “It’s appropriate that There Will Come Soft Rains will be made through our sustainable production platform at green-screen.org.uk. The sustainability programme measures and reduces carbon emissions, using simple strategies relating to energy reduction, travel, water and waste management. It will ensure the film is made in the most sustainable way possible.”

Danusia Samal, The Hot House: Shorts donor, actor and climate campaigner, said: “I am so excited to have collaborated with Climate Spring on The Hot House: Shorts. There Will Come Soft Rains is a beautiful film with a brilliant team. This programme is an exciting opportunity to elevate climate stories and narratives that we don’t see enough of as part of the climate crisis conversation. Our industry plays a vital role in how this crisis and its solutions are depicted onscreen. I am hopeful that The Hot House: Shorts will pave the way for other productions.”