Animals winning over movie audiences
March 11, 2015, BOULDER, CO – This weekend at the Boulder International Film Festival 2015 audiences voted an animal rights film and a conservation film as the best two feature films of the festival with ‘Lion Ark’ winning the People’s Choice Award for best feature film, just ahead of ‘Racing Extinction’, the new film by Louie Psihoyos, director of Oscar winner ‘The Cove’ which in turn won the festival’s Catalyst Award.
Animal Defenders International (ADI) President Jan Creamer who is also a producer of Lion Ark says: “The success of films like “Blackfish”, “The Cove” and the response to “Lion Ark” and “Racing Extinction” shows that there is a real appetite for films that take on serious animal protection issues.”
The prestigious festival was attended by over 25,000 people, and a special honor was presented to Hollywood legend Alan Arkin. Over 50 diverse films were screened, but it was the two campaigning films for animals and the environment that won the hearts of the audiences.
While Lion Ark and Racing Extinction are radically different in narrative style, both have in common that they take animal, environment and conservation issues head on, showing people how they can make a difference, by protecting animals and conserving the planet for all.
Lion Ark is a live action documentary about the rescue of 25 lions from Bolivian circuses by a team from ADI, follows their remarkable rehabilitation and journey to a sanctuary in Colorado.
Tim Phillips, Director of Lion Ark: “Lion Ark is up close and personal, in the heart of the action; we wanted people to enjoy the story while it delivers an important message, so it is very rewarding that of the eight awards the film has won at festivals, five have been audience votes.
“Lion Ark and Racing Extinction are very different in style, but the audience response to both shows that there is real interest in films tackling animal protection, environment and conservation issues, showing people they can make a difference and doing so in a positive way.”
Lion Ark played to around 500 people at its main Saturday screening and a further 200 at a second screening added later that day, followed by lively Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. The film also screened to a lively audience at Boulder Millennial High School, followed by an extended discussion with the filmmakers.
Racing Extinction is from the Oceanic Preservation Society and takes on two threats to endangered wild species across the globe: the international wildlife trade and the hidden world of carbon emissions and acidified oceans.
Lion Ark filmmakers Tim Phillips, ADI Vice President and Jan Creamer, ADI President, left the film festival to head straight for their next rescue operation, this time in Peru and Colombia, where over 60 animals are being saved from traveling circuses and the illegal wildlife trade.
Over 30 lions from this rescue will be flown by ADI to The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) in Colorado – just like the lions featured in Lion Ark. New habitats are being built by ADI in the Amazon to home the native wild animals including several species of monkeys, kinkajous, coatis and others.
Jan Creamer, “As we go back to continue this huge rescue in Peru and Colombia, it is very heartening to know that public interest in protecting animals and the environment has been so high at Boulder International film Festival.”
Lion Ark has signed a worldwide TV, VOD, DVD, and airline distribution deal with ITV Global Entertainment and will be available to mass audiences in 2015, as well as a US theatrical tour lined up for the spring and summer.
People’s Choice Award at Boulder International Film Festival
- Lion Ark
- Racing Extinction
- Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia
- A Place to Stand
- Meet The Patels
Watch the LION ARK trailer online at: www.lionarkthemovie.com
LION ARK trailer from http://youtu.be/8k1MMsckgZA
Donate to ADI’s animal rescues http://bit.ly/1sEUi8A
Operation Spirit of Freedom rescue of wild animals from Peru’s circuses, with video http://www.ad-international.org/animal_rescues/go.php?id=3861&ssi=24
LION ARK AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Winner People’s Choice Award, Boulder International Film Festival
Winner Audience Choice Best Documentary, San Diego Film Festival
Winner Best Documentary Omaha International Film Festival
Winner Audience Choice Environmental Film Sedona International Film Festival
Winner Audience Favorite Documentary Palm Beach International Film Festival
Winner Best Documentary Sun & Sand: The Mississippi Film & Music Festival
Winner The Animal Award, Cinema Verde Environmental Film & Arts Festival
Runner-up Audience Choice Best Documentary Anchorage International Film Festival
Nominated: Outstanding International Motion Picture, 45th NAACP Image Awards
Official Selection Raindance Film Festival, London
Official Selection Mill Valley Film Festival
Official Selection Hawaii International Film Festival
Official Selection Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Official Selection Virginia Film Festival
Official Selection Starz Denver Film Festival
Official Selection Irvine International Film Festival
Official Selection Beloit International Film Festival
Official Selection Crossroads Festival for Documentary Film and Discourse, Austria
Official Selection Cinema Verde Environmental Film & Arts Festival
Official Selection Boulder International Film Festival
REVIEWS
“Compelling cinema verité” – The Hollywood Reporter
“The feel-good movie of the year!” – Reel Talk
“Refreshing” The New York Times
“Unmissable! FIVE STARS” – Britflicks
“A consciousness-raising milestone of a documentary” – The Ecologist
“Up-tempo action-adventure of the most thrilling variety: real-life.” – Stark Insider
“…thoroughly rewarding” – TV and Film Review
“One of your must-see films” – The Independent Critic
“Will restore some faith in humanity.” – Shockya.com
“… heartwarming, beautiful and inspirational. It reminds you of the majestic power of documentary filmmaking…” –Shock Cinema Magazine / Mondo Film & Video Guide
“AMAZING! Viewers will be crying tears of joy throughout….” – Renee Snyder, International Animal Welfare Examiner, The Ex
