Animalis Fabula Official Selections

The Conservation Game - Feature Documentary - USA

8/17/2021

#AniFab Animalis Fabula Film Festival Official Selection The Conservation Game

Set against the backdrop of a heated national debate on captive big cats in America, THE CONSERVATION GAME follows the story of Tim Harrison, an Ohio cop who stumbles upon a bombshell discovery while undercover at an exotic animal auction. He starts to suspect that America's top television celebrity conservationists may be secretly connected to the exotic pet trade.

What follows is a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, filled with lies, deception, and cover-ups. As his investigation leads deeper into the secret world of the big cat trade, Tim and his team take their fight to the halls of Congress, pressing lawmakers to pass federal legislation that would end the private breeding and exploitation of these endangered animals.

Michael Webber #AniFab Animalis Fabula Film Festival Official Selection The Conservation Game

Director Michael Webber

But when opposition comes from an unexpected source, Tim is forced to face the demons of his own past, while wrestling with the consequences of exposing his childhood hero.

Michael Webber is an American motion picture producer/director who has produced numerous films for studios such as 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate. Webber is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has received the highest praise by top critics.

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for The Conservation Game is 9.4 out of 10 with one judge noting, "Super important to dig deeper into issues and ask questions no one wants asked. Powerful, beautifully crafted. 2 thumbs up - Team AniFab is going to try to build our opening night premiere in Austin around this movie, The Conservation Game. You're going to hear a great deal about this movie in the coming months.

Seals and Sea Lions: Scoundrels or Scapegoats? - Short Documentary - USA

8/14/2021

Seals and sea lions have been blamed for causing fish population collapses and for keeping fish populations for recovering. Is the blame justified, or are they being scapegoated?

Mike has been a filmmaker for over 30 years. He'sdDirected "Beneath the Plains: The Minuteman Missile on Alert," produced for the National Park Service. Worked as Senior Editor for Boston Productions for 19 years, making documentary films and immersive experiences for many American museums. Graduate of Emerson College, Boston and currently pursuing M.S. in Film and Media Studies at Arizona State University.

Director Mike Sullivan

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for Seals & Sea Lions is 6.1 out of 10 with this judge writing, "Interesting and meaningful presentation by an NGO. Lot's of "Experts". I do think it's important to hear all sides if possible in this type of presentation. Or, at least make a diligent attempt. It is not always possible - we understand."

The Legacy - Short Documentary - Mexico

8/13/2021

Watch The Lagacy right here, right now below

"The Legacy", narrated by Gerardo del Villar, shares his concern and proposal to conserve marine ecosystems and sharks, a passion inherited by his grandfather and his parents.

To Gerardo it is very important that his children and future generations enjoy healthy oceans and he knows that the best way to do this is by raising awareness and learning to love the species that live in them; who better than the whale shark to be the great teacher.

Directors: Gerardo del Villar & Alex Luke

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for The Legacy is 6.6 out of 10, with one judge remarking, "The Legacy is a love letter from a father to his children."

Director Gerardo del Villar

BUZZKILL - Short Documentary - USA

8/1/2021

German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG installs a mural about bees in the small Oakhurst section of Decatur, Georgia. What they hadn't bargained on was the community’s offshoot conversation and response about bees, murals, messages, ecology and angry allegations of `greenwashing.’

Director Statement
I made this film in hopes that it will narrow the conversation about ecology, corporate messaging and community. Co-existence is possible.

Director Ron Harris

AniFab judge's aggregate score for BUZZKILL is 6.4 out of 10 with one judge noting, "An important perspective on the buying of perception to deceive. More stories about Bee's need to be made. Nice job, Ron."

A Snail's Pace - Short Documentary - UK

8/1/2021

A Snail's Pace', Ian's first wildlife doc! But no commentary. No music. No explanations. Nothing to explain. Just observe. An observational wildlife doc! Presenting 'a snail's pace', my first film shot and edited on a smartphone. Filmed handheld. No tripod or gimbal. No additional lens. No external microphone. Edited on iphone's imovie app. Simple shots. Straight cuts. Capturing a moment, a movement, a journey. From Trivandrum in Kerala, South India during lockdown (May 2021). When my world shrunk to a house and garden. When time detached itself from the days. When the unnoticed became noticeable. When life calmed down. Like its main protagonist, 'a snail's pace' moves at a snail's pace. Presenting a challenge to the audience to keep pace with the intrepid snail. To slow down.

Director Ian McDonald

Director Statement
I had always been skeptical of the smartphone as a device for 'proper' documentary making. But being gifted an iPhone and languishing under lockdown in India (without my video camera) led to enforced experimentations in filming with the smartphone! I spend every morning on the verandah of my wife's family house in South India drinking coffee, reading the newspaper, and observing life around me: stray cats coming and going, crows excitedly crowing, ants marching, and if it has rained, snails, snails, snails. On one such morning, I saw a beautiful snail and decided impromptu to film it's journey. Without the smartphone, the journey would have been observed but not filmed. But the process of filming concentrated my mind on the snail and I saw my lockdown life mirrored in the snail's journey. Life had become solitary, slowed, methodical, precarious. I am also charmed by the fact that I can shoot, edit and upload the film to vimeo all from the phone itself. But is this 'proper' documentary filmmaking?

AniFab judge's aggregated score is 7.2 out of 10 with one judge sharing the following, "Thank you for experimenting Ian. Silver linings are everywhere, so hard to see sometimes. Thank you for taking time to spend time with a snail and friends. Keep experimenting.

Wild Winds: Spirit of the Bison - Short Documentary - USA

7/26/2021

A buffalo preserve in northern Indiana is home to over 250 wild bison (also known as "buffalo"). Their human caretakers share their passion for the United States' national animal, and its importance to the nation's history and future.

Sawyer states on his LinkedIn that, he considers himself a well-rounded filmmaker that specializes in directing and editing. I love telling people's stories and creating something that both my team and I are proud of.

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for Sawyer Pasma's Wild Winds: Spirit Of The Bison is 7.4 out of 10 with one judge writing, " Thoroughly enjoyed learning about the origins of Wild Winds in Indiana. It makes me want to go there. Nicely done, Sawyer.

Director Sawyer Pasma

MicroKansas / Tribulation - Short Documentary - USA

7/24/2021

The first chapter of a larger project. Tribulation documents the struggles of a young garter snake in central Kansas, USA.

Bobby Obermite is a filmmaker, photographer and instructor from Hutchinson, Kansas. Where he lives with his wife, daughter and two dogs. He studied film and media at the University of Kansas, graduating in 2011. He is an instructor in the Media Production department at Hutchinson Community College, where he also works as a filmmaker. Bobby started and runs Blue Barn Productions, a production company that produces independent films.

Director Bobby Obermite

AniFab judge's aggregate score for MicoKansas is 7.1 out of 10 with one judge commenting, "Interesting macro look into a few harrowing moments of being a frog in a pond with predators. We want to see more!

SMART - Feature Documentary - USA

7/21/2021

Imagine your pet - a member of your family - stranded on a cliff, stuck in a lake, starving on top of a 100' palm tree or trapped underneath an abandoned home. Who would you call?

Meet Armando Navarrete and Los Angeles' Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team. SMART - the extraordinary documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Justin Zimmerman - showcases Armando's journey as he grapples to get his team off the ground, survives death-defying rescues and finds love, all in the midst of LA's heart-breaking animal shelter system. It's "Blackhawk Down" meets "Blackfish" and an unforgettable experience for anyone who's shared a bond with an animal.

Director Justin Zimmerman

AniFab judge's aggregate score for SMART is 7.2 out of 10 with one judge noting, "SMART is a passionate take on the lives and work of LA's animal rescue team. SMART is smart!"

Saudade - Short Documentary - Portugal

7/16/2021

You can watch Saudade free right here in an effort to amplify the message of SOS Animal

Sandra Duarte Cardoso, veterinary medicine and founder of SOS Animal in Portugal, was to know Najin, Fatu and its protectors. this is the story of a meeting the two latest white rhinocerontes from the north of the planet.

Sandra is an activist, mother of a human and 8 non-humans, President of SOS Animal - Portugal, CEO of Imprescindível Pensar, TV presenter - SIC Chanel, Medical Vet -DVM MCs, Phd Student. She was the producer of the successful television project “À Descoberta Com”.
Tiago Iúri (1994) studied “Image and Sound” at the Higher School of Arts and Design (ESAD) of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, in Caldas da Rainha.

Currently, he is a director and editor at the production company Imprescindível Pensar in partnership with SOS Animal, with the successful television project “À Descoberta Com”.

Director's Sandra Duarte Cardoso & Tiago Iúri

AniFab judge's aggregate score for Saudade is 8.9 out of 10 with one judge writing, "This film allowed me slow down and step into another world! The cinematography is beautiful and brings us in direct contact with an animal that few of us ever see up close, let alone touch. This is a touching story, yet culminates in hope; hope that the children of Kenya will learn the value of keeping their wildlife alive. A lovely film!"

Furball - Short Narrative - Canada

7/16/2021

When self-centred feline, Furball, faces losing his owner’s attention, he takes matters into his own paws and learns that, while relationships may change, the love remains, no matter what the species.

A graduate of York University's Film and Video program, Jason Rogerson is the winner of the L.M. Montgomery PEI Writing for Children Award for his short story, Thalia, Jason was granted one of PEI’s inaugural Film 4Ward awards for his short film, Furball. He currently has several films in development, including Boxcar Dan and the Vagabond Strangers, which was awarded the PEI Screenwriters’ Bootcamp – Pitch For Your Life award in 2018.

Director Jason Rogerson

Director Statement
With Furball, I wanted to create a quirky short that explores the many ways in which we connect (or struggle to). Whether we're yearning for a relationship, possessive of one, or lucky enough to be in a healthy one, it seems we all share one thing - a fear of the unknown. Furball is about taking risks, letting go of our fears and egos, and discovering something better than we could have ever imagined, no matter what our species.

AniFab judge's aggregate score for Furball is 8 out of 10 with one judge writing, "I can't stop smiling! Furball had me amused and enthralled from the start! I actually thought the description being spoken at the beginning could have been of Furball or his human. As the story unfolded this story had me chuckling out loud - loved it!"