Michelle Lewis interviews filmmaker Josh Thompson about his documentary Kingdom Fungi, profiled for the Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival 2026. Thompson explains how a hobby for fungi foraging in England’s ancient woodlands led him to connect with mycologists and artists, expand from planned social media shorts into a self-funded feature, and document expeditions and partnerships including trips tied to Bhutan and Chile, the Fungi Foundation, and fungal conservation efforts. He shares what he hopes audiences take away—slowing down, noticing nature, sharing knowledge, and supporting protection and conservation—along with his love of filming, the need to outsource sound, and plans for a future sequel. He discusses upcoming premieres, credits his hope to family support, and says major climate change would require moving beyond fossil fuels, shifting government attitudes, and improving fungi’s protection status.
00:44 Why Kingdom Fungi
02:34 From Hobby to Film
03:21 Meet the Mycologists
05:27 Expeditions Take Off
06:42 Community and Mycelium
07:49 Funding and Future Plans
10:04 What Viewers Take Away
12:21 Filmmaking Craft Choices
15:43 Premieres and Outreach
17:51 Hope and Climate Stick
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