ANIFAB CURTAIN RISES ON A MASTERPIECE OF EMPATHY

ANIFAB 25 PROGRAM LOCKED AND READY FOR SAN ANTONIO ANIMAL LOVERS!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - San Antonio, Texas - October 21, 2025
By Tom McPhee, Festival Director, Animalis Fabula Film Festival
(use the search box to the right to find any movie)

The work is done - MOSTLY. The submissions have been reviewed, the international invites have been accepted, and the final schedule is coming into focus. We at Texas Media Maker Magazine - the primary media sponsor of the Animalis Fabula Film Festival (#AniFab25) - are proud to declare that our 2025 program, set for Friday and Saturday, November 28th and 29th, is not merely a festival; it is a civic statement, a cultural pilgrimage, and a powerful act of collective compassion. It is, to borrow a phrase, a film experience that will leave you richer for having seen it.

This year, AniFab 25 moves beyond its already esteemed reputation and sets up its stage at the magnificent, 1,000-seat historic Woodlawn Theater. For two days over the Thanksgiving weekend, this theater will become the heart of a global conversation, uniting filmmakers from dozens of countries, local advocates, and two special guests whose presence confirms our festival’s unique weight: One of the 100 most influential and important people in the world today, Dr. Temple Grandin and Child Star Romy Fay of The Chosen Adventures animated series.

ACT I: SHOWCASE OF GENIUS - DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN, AN OPEN DOOR
The emotional and intellectual anchor of AniFab 25 is the confirmation of Dr. Temple Grandin as our honored guest. This is not a casual appearance; this is a landmark event. Dr. Grandin will join us fresh off her prestigious presentation at the National Portrait Gallery alongside none other than legendary director Steven Spielberg. Her attendance, secured alongside her partner, Future Horizons, transforms our festival into a crucial educational platform.
Dr. Grandin’s genius lies in her ability to see the world not as humans traditionally interpret it, but as animals and visual thinkers experience it. Her work is the very embodiment of our festival’s theme, “An Open Door.”

The closing night ceremony on Saturday, November 29th, at 7:00 PM, will be dedicated to her legacy. It begins with the screening of the compelling documentary, Temple Grandin: An Open Door. Following the film, Dr. Grandin will participate in a live, extended Q&A session, an extraordinary opportunity for our audience to glean insights from one of the world's most revolutionary minds. The night culminates with the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award, a well-deserved tribute to a woman who has fundamentally improved animal welfare globally. Her presence alone confirms that AniFab is not just screening art; we are celebrating the genius of compassion.

ACT II: THE FAMILY HEART & THE FREE GIFT - ROMY FAY PRESENTS THE CHOSEN ADVENTURES
A film festival must feed the soul, but it must also nurture the next generation of audiences and artists. That mission is beautifully fulfilled on Friday, November 28th, with The Chosen Adventures Experience, which is being presented FREE to the public (seat reservation required).
We are absolutely delighted to welcome child star Romy Fay, the vibrant voice of the lead character, Abby, in the new animated series The Chosen Adventures. This young American actress is already a phenomenon, known for her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning Leopoldstadt (performing over 300 shows on Broadway to open the play!) and her roles in Best Foot Forward and The Wingfeather Saga. Romy will be in person to introduce the show, present four full episodes of the series, conduct a live Q&A with the audience, and even sing several songs from the show’s soundtrack!

The Chosen Adventures follows nine-year-old Abby and her best friend, Joshua, navigating life in ancient Capernaum and encountering the craftsman and teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, all with the addition of a talking sheep and bird. This is family entertainment of the highest quality—whimsical, heartfelt, and deeply moral. This magnificent event is hosted by our esteemed nonprofit partner, God’s Dogs Rescue, ensuring that the joy and inspiration of Romy’s appearance directly supports the saving of canine lives in our community.

ACT III: THE GLOBAL SLATE – AWARD-WINNING CINEMA
The true heart of AniFab beats in the dark, where the projection light hits the screen. Our locked slate of over 25 movies represents the best in animal storytelling. Directors are flying in from around the world to present their work, demonstrating the global urgency of our shared mission.

Feature Film Highlights:
The Animalis Fabula Film Festival (#AniFab25) has always championed films that reveal hidden worlds, and this year’s documentary feature selection plunges us into the depths of crucial, untold stories. We’ve found a few films that are not just educational, but genuinely cinematic experiences that redefine what it means to be aware of the ecosystems around us.

• The Invisible Mammal (Documentary Feature). This documentary is a necessary wake-up call, a film about an endangered species that few people know even exists. It takes a patient, respectful approach to showing us an animal whose survival is directly tied to our own choices. The film succeeds because it treats its subject not as a scientific curiosity, but as a protagonist fighting for existence. It forces the viewer to confront their own ignorance, arguing persuasively that if we don't protect what we can't see, we doom ourselves. This is a quiet, powerful film—a five-star viewing experience that is required viewing for anyone who lives near the water. DP’d by Texan Skip Hobbie.
• Mobula: The Devil's Legend (Documentary Feature). This French documentary immediately captivates, transporting us beneath the waves to follow the majestic Mobula rays, often mistaken for their larger cousins, the Manta. The film beautifully captures the balletic grace of these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. But the "legend" is a cautionary one: it documents the devastating impact of illegal fishing, revealing how a creature so vital to marine health is being decimated by human greed. Director [Director's Name - if available, otherwise omit] crafts an underwater epic that is both breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreakingly urgent. It reminds us that every ocean creature, from the largest whale to the most graceful ray, deserves our respect and our protection. These films are prime examples of AniFab’s mission: to give voice to the voiceless through extraordinary art.
• 25 Cats from Qatar (Documentary Feature): Directed by the celebrated Mye Hoang (Cat Daddies), this film is a powerful, high-stakes narrative about a courageous effort to rescue felines from a conflict-ridden environment. It’s a film that defines heroism in the face of chaos. Our nonprofit host partner for this is the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition (SAFCC), connecting global rescue to local TNR advocacy.

Short Film Highlights:
Eye on the Short Film ShowcaseThe true delight of a film festival often resides in the short film blocks, those quick, potent bursts of storytelling that prove an entire universe can be created and explored in under thirty minutes. AniFab 25 has assembled a stunning lineup that spans genres, geographies, and emotional registers, offering many distinct perspectives on the human-animal bond.

• Mama, Mama is perhaps the most emotionally raw of the selections, a narrative short that gets straight to the messy, vital heart of rescue. It’s a beautifully observed piece that captures the exhaustion and fierce love of those who dedicate their lives to saving animals, often at personal cost directed by Kerry Francis of the Knives Out franchise.
• How Horses Heal is pure documentary uplift. It shows us that animals don't just need saving; they do the saving, detailing the profound, often quiet miracle of equine therapy. The film is a testament to the fact that the most effective healers often have four legs.
• Shepherd Boy, hailing from Portugal and Qatar, offers a lyrical, observational gaze into a life few of us experience - the solitary, difficult life for stray dogs on the street in Qatar. It finds epic meaning in the quiet routines of a simple life, a poetic reminder of our shared community with the animal kingdom.
• Dragon and Me, a narrative short that uses a creative, metaphorical lens to explore themes of companionship, fear, and finding the extraordinary in the seemingly mundane. It is imaginative filmmaking that knows how to connect a strange premise to a universal emotion.
• The Fiddler Crab from Taiwan is simply exquisite. Animation is uniquely suited to capturing the delicate majesty of the natural world, and this film uses the art form to give us a vivid, almost tactile sense of the coastal ecosystem. It’s a beautifully crafted fable that works on multiple levels, proving that stories about the smallest creatures often have the biggest impact. 
• Reynard the Fox (Animated Short): Directed by Maddy Pull, this charming stop motion puppet animation - made with support from Aardman Studios (Oscar winning Nick Park’s studio behind Chicken Run) - is a whimsical adaptation of the medieval beast epic. It is a stunning display of craftsmanship and wit, reminding us that the power of words can always triumph over brute force.  

These are some of the shorts that collectively embody AniFab’s mission: to show the world as it is, as it could be, and as it is seen through eyes not quite our own.

ACT IV: CIVIC ACTION AND EMPOWERMENT – THE WORKSHOPS
 AniFab is not a passive experience; it is a call to action powered by practical workshops designed to empower both citizens and creators.

The centerpiece of our civic programming is the Dogs of San Antonio Open Forum 2, led by Dr. Temple Grandin and moderated by acclaimed investigative journalist Michael Karlis (San Antonio Current). Karlis, known for his relentless and detailed reporting on the stray crisis in his "Once Bitten" cover story, will guide Dr. Grandin and local leaders through a structured discussion aimed at dismantling the systemic failures that perpetuate the crisis. Crucially, Dr. Grandin specifically insisted that youth from the Texas FFA Foundation and 4-H have a meaningful presence, stating that these young  minds are necessary to solve the problem the current system has failed to fix.
Other key workshops include:

• Film Distribution Masterclass: Mye Hoang (25 Cats from Qatar) will lead a session using her Cat Daddies success as a case study, sharing hard-won secrets on indie film distribution.
• How to Engage the San Antonio Film Commission: Presented by Texas Media Maker Magazine, this workshop teaches filmmakers the essential, brass-tacks tactics for working productively, and many times not, with city government resources.  Now, somebody needs to ask if the San Antonio Film Commission (SAFC) will even be in attendance.

ACT V: THE PARTNER NETWORK – THE TRUE HEART OF ANIFAB
A film festival’s true meaning is measured by the community it supports. AniFab 25 is built upon a foundation of dedicated, compassionate partners—local heroes who make our mission possible.
We offer our deepest gratitude to our entire network, here is a shortlist of our partners:

• Texas Media Maker Magazine: Our primary media sponsor, whose commitment ensures that every inspiring story from the festival reaches the widest possible audience across Texas and beyond.
• World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S): The award-winning 501(c)(3) service organization that produces the festival, ensuring all efforts are focused on measurable welfare impact.
• Future Horizons: Partnering with Dr. Temple Grandin to bring her essential knowledge to our community.
• San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition (SAFCC): Our partner host for 25 Cats from Qatar, connecting international rescue to local TNR heroes.
• God’s Dogs Rescue: Our partner host for The Chosen Adventures Experience, linking family entertainment to vital canine rescue efforts.
• Bears Etc. and Bat Conservation international partner on the screening of The Invisible Mammal.
  
• K9 SWAT partnering with; You Love Dogs block of films including Hustle & Run.
  
• Texas FFA Foundation of Texas + Central Texas 4-H: Our crucial partners in youth empowerment, bringing the next generation of problem-solvers to the Grandin Forum.
• 5and2 & The Chosen Foundation: The generous entities making the Romy Fay / The Chosen Adventures experience entirely free for the public.
• TVSA & City of San Antonio office of Communications and Engagement

This robust network confirms that AniFab is not just a commercial endeavor; it is a cooperative movement designed to uplift, educate, and save lives.

Conclusion: Do Not Miss This Moment 
The program is set. The tickets are about to go on sale. This festival is the perfect blend of high-caliber cinematic art and urgent civic necessity. Do not just read about the moment when San Antonio became the epicenter of compassionate advocacy--be there. Secure your tickets, join the conversation, and leave inspired.

Visit the AniFab website for more details, ticket sales and seat reservations today:  https://www.animalisfabula.org/