SDH Captioned
Grades 7 - 12, College, Adults
Directed by Doug Hawes-Davis
Produced by Doug Hawes-Davis, Dru Carr
DVD Purchase $395, Rent $95
US Release Date: 2025
Copyright Date: 2025
DVD ISBN: 1-961192-50-0
Subjects
Agriculture
Biodiversity
Biology
Climate Change/Global Warming
Conservation
Ecology
Endangered Species
Entomology
Environment
European Studies
Evolutionary Biology
Gardening
Geography
Global Issues
Habitat
Land Use
Life Science
Pollution
Toxic Chemicals
Urban Studies
Urban and Regional Planning
Awards and Festivals
Best Environmental and Social Documentary, Lighthouse International Film Festival
Spirit Award for Sustainable Futures, Ceres Food Film Festival
Best Feature Film, Poulsbo Film Festival
Best Cinematography, Twelve Lions Film Festival
St. Louis International Film Festival
Sidewalk Film Festival
Richmond International Film Festival
Mesa International Film festival
East Lansing Film Festival
San Diego Environmental Film Festival
Beholders: Documentary Dialogues (Netherlands)
AtlantiDOC (Uruguay)
Better Cities Film Festival
Attempts to find answers to the precipitous population decline of flying insects around the world, and what this might mean for the stability of our ecosystems and for the rest of life on Earth.
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"Anyone who cares about our natural world and our place in it should watch this documentary." Ryan St Laurent, Asst Prof. Ecology, UC-Boulder |
[Note: Community screenings of The Little Things that Run the World can be booked at Bullfrog Communities.]
The Little Things that Run the World introduces viewers to a diverse group of scientists, nature lovers, gardeners, farmers, and general bug enthusiasts in exploring the importance of flying insects amid rapid declines in their numbers. This most numerous group of animals on the planet by far—three quarters of all species—have also been called the "glue of life" on Earth. They literally hold ecosystems together.
Insects were the first animals to evolve flight nearly 440 million years ago, and they survived all five of the known mass extinctions since then. But, there is evidence that the pace of decline among insects in parts of the world today is fast approaching the levels of previous catastrophes. What this means for the rest of life on Earth, including humans, is the focus of the film.
The film documents the mysteries of the declines alongside creative and heroic human efforts to change the course of evolutionary history. What is causing this extinction crisis? What can be done to reverse the trend? The Little Things that Run the World attempts to find answers to those questions and more.
Other Bullfrog films by Dru Carr and Doug Hawes-Davis are El Caballo, Wind River, Varmints, and Southbound.
Reviews
"The Little Things That Run the World is a visual treat! You'll come for the incredible insect photography and stay for the important lessons on land use, habitat disruption, native plants, and avoiding monocultures. This is an important and visually entrancing film that reminds us of the perils of ignoring the needs of our invertebrate neighbors."
Chris Stelzig, Executive Director, Entomological Society of America
"What a terrific and timely summary of the global status of insects! E.O. Wilson and more than a dozen other world-renown scientists provide insightful critiques of the anthropogenic causes of insect declines and what we can do going forward to protect insect biodiversity. The stunning photography, sobering statistics, and insightful interviews make the film a valuable resource for students, educators, conservation biologists, policy makers, and environmentalists looking to build a more sustainable and just future for humanity and nature."
David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut
"At times inspiring, at times heartbreaking, The Little Things That Run the World digs into understanding global insect decline. Today we are experiencing a new Silent Spring. The causes now are more complex and daunting, and we are moving closer to irreversible extinctions of the pollinators and ecosystem engineers that power the food webs supporting humanity. Yet this hopeful film shows that solutions are local, and that in our gardens, farms, and cities, we are far from helpless to turn the tide."
Daniel Gruner, Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland
"The Little Things That Run the World provides a thorough exploration of insect declines that includes historic context, scientific evidence, and examples of individuals making a difference. The film provides a great example of bringing peer-reviewed scientific literature to life. Pairing viewings of the films with readings of scientific literature referenced in the film or other scientific work by scientists featured in the film would be a great classroom activity."
Elaine Evans, Extension Professor of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Author, Befriending Bumble Bees: A Guide to Raising Local Bumble Bees and Managing Alternative Pollinators
"Insects are facing unprecedented decline, and we are to blame. This excellent documentary gives experts in the field of Entomology a powerful platform from which to sound the alarm. Anyone who cares about our natural world and our place in it should watch this documentary to learn what is happening and what we should be doing to fix what we have broken."
Ryan St Laurent, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Curator of Entomology, Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado-Boulder
"Deeply engaging...Leaves us with a sense of wonder and a gentle, optimistic call to action, inspiring us to appreciate and protect the delicate balance of our natural world. It's a mesmerizing exploration of the vital yet often overlooked role of insects in our global ecosystem...A documentary that is both scientifically rigorous and visually stunning, taking us on a journey into the intricate world of these tiny creatures, and reminding us how fundamental they are to life as we know it."
Lighthouse International Film Festival Jury Statement
"The Little Things that Run the World provides a balanced, complete, and current covering of insect biodiversity loss, sharing the stunning beauty and enormous diversity of insects and the passion of those who devote their lives to understand and protect them. Even though the biodiversity crisis we are experiencing is extremely worrisome and there is no one solution that can solve it, there is a multiplicity of simple (and more complex) actions that every person can do to stop it."
Anahi Espíndola, Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland
"Through striking visuals and content that is fully aligned with the current science, The Little Things That Run the World uncovers the essential role insects play in sustaining life on earth. With ecosystems under pressure, global experts outline the urgent threats facing insect population, and the critical steps humanity must take to halt their decline."
Simon Potts, Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Director, Center for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading