THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Despite the fact that my films have now won awards in over 40 locations from one end of the planet to the other, this is the one I’ve been holding my breath about for a year. This is the prestigious, high-profile RED MOVIE AWARDS, held in the magnificent Opera House in Reims, Fr...
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THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Despite the fact that my films have now won awards in over 40 locations from one end of the planet to the other, this is the one I’ve been holding my breath about for a year. This is the prestigious, high-profile RED MOVIE AWARDS, held in the magnificent Opera House in Reims, France. And guess what?
WE WON !!!
Not Best Short Documentary.
Not Best Environmental Film.
BUT BEST DOCUMENTARY !!!
Film festivals can receive hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of films to be considered. Typically 1-5% are selected for screening/nomination/consideration for an award. Obviously an even smaller percentage win. A solid film can submit to dozens of festivals, as we have done, often by invitation from the festival, and realistically expect a 5-10% acceptance/selection rate, and lower than that for a win. “Land of the Free” has well and truly blown those odds out of the park !!!
I am beyond grateful, humbled, honoured and delighted… and as I was unable to attend in person, the festival asked me to film an acceptance video in case I won that they could play on the big screen on the night and (drum roll) here it is: https://youtu.be/o3SZg2zOBC4?si=8oHamZfdJcWsWQuS
(The trophy is the one we won at the seasonal, not annual, awards last year at this festival.)
Next month the proposed Prohibition Bill to ban the imports of trophy hunting into the UK goes to its committee stage in the House of Commons. If you are a British resident or citizen living abroad, please write to the MPs and Lords urging them to pass the Bill. Thank you xx
Herewith all the background on my film and THE MOST IMPORTANT THANKS YOUS…
For private screening or viewing of the film please contact me through: www.LandOfTheFreeMovie.com
Shot both overtly and covertly in Uganda, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, London, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Australia, “Land of the Free: OUT OF THE SHADOWS” goes where no film has ever dared to go before to expose the full depth of subversion and the nefarious disinformation campaigns systematically perpetrated by the trophy hunting industry.
Featuring icons, legends and real life superheroes including her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (by special license from the Parliamentary Recording Unit UK), Priscilla Presley, Tippi Hedren, His Excellency the former President of Botswana Lt Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Dame Dr Jane Goodall, Dame Virginia McKenna founder of the Born Free Foundation and star of the immortal classic “Born Free”, 2019 Albert Schweitzer Award recipient John Thompson from Washington DC, BAFTA winning actor Peter Egan, Sir Roger Gale MP (UK), Eduardo Gonçalves founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, those indigenous peoples on the ground where trophy hunting is occurring, former Chief Inspector of the Zimbabwe SPCA Meryl Harrison, anthropologist/primatologist/conservationist/founder of the New Nature Foundation Michael Stern, and many others.
20 years in the making.
Directed by Emmy nominated director James Ganiere.
Original musical score by Grammy nominated composer Mauritz Lotz Productions.
Sound design by Oscar winner Nigel Christensen.
Original songs by the inspirational Mzansi Youth Choir of Soweto, a choir comprised of children plucked from the slums of Soweto who often had no parents, no inside toilet facilities and frequently had no food to eat but they had the God given gift of music. They have gone on to receive standing ovations in the Royal Albert Hall London and have performed with superstars as diverse as Andrea Bocelli to Beyoncé. More recently they have been the historic winners of the first ever Golden Buzzer award for a group on America's Got Talent.
Title track from Richard Loring’s international stage sensation “African Footprint”. This show premiered on Robbin Island with Nelson Mandela on Millennium Eve to a global television audience of 1.5 billion people.
Narrated by the late great Cliff Simon and the gorgeous Kirstine Lumb-Mckay who has been with me on this journey since day one.
Post production by Brian Rapsey.
Contributing editor David Bartlett.
Funding by Larry Korman, Korin Levine Korman, Linda Richardson Korman, Bill McNabb, Priscilla Presley, Lynn Santer, James Ganiere, David Leneman, Sandy Bresler, Aldwyn Altuney and David Rogers, The Australian Firefighters Calendar.
London film units lead by Anthony Leake, Daniel Loh and the Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU).
Australian film units lead by Justin Hartwell and Brian Rapsey.
Washington DC film unit lead by Richard Hall.
Uganda film unit lead by Korin Korman.
Los Angeles film units lead by Michael Fitzmaurice, Jackson Stahl, Joel Schwartzberg, Greg Benitez and Jens Eser.
South African film unit lead by Untitled Film Works.
*Zimbabwean, Botswana and Tanzania film units - unnamed
Second unit director Gina Angelone
Voice Overs Jeremy Lawrence and Steve Silver.
Special thanks to John Mitchell Adams and Destinations Africa, The Humane Society, former NCA operative Reg Dickason, the Born Free Foundation, the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, Siobhan Mitchell of the Coalition to Ban Trophy Hunting, Pippa Hankinson of Blood Lions, Jannie Zaaiman, Debra Batzofin, Harvey Brownstone and the Red Movie Awards.
Legal advice K&L Gates
Together, this determined and courageous team shares a passion to ban the LEGAL torture and slaughter of sentient, sensitive, endangered species for nothing more than gratuitous pride, pleasure and profit. Together their aim is to switch the species on the endangered list to… the trophy hunter.
"They won't say goodbye, they will just go. When they are gone, when every last life has been stolen, there will be silence. Extinction is forever."
- Unknown.
