We Will Grow

During the summer of 2023, Rhodes was ravaged by the worst wildfires in the island’s history, burning over 18,000 hectares of land. During the eleven days that the wildfires lasted, the residents of the island put their lives on hold to volunteer, organising on a grassroots level to create an alternative support network, exposing the lack of personnel and equipment available to manage natural disasters in Greece. The film follows the activists that emerged during the disaster as they reflect on their experience and loss.

Director: Areti Pagoulatou
Areti Pagoulatou was born in Rhodes, Greece. She studied Film at the University of Westminster in London. Since graduating in 2024, she has been working as a Researcher for Unscripted Film and TV in the United Kingdom while independently working on her own projects. Her work focuses on alternative forms of community organising with an environmental approach, immigration and gentrification.