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DVD REVIEW: Lion Ark

The multi-award winning documentary Lion Ark tells the inspirational story of the rescue of 25 lions from circuses in Bolivia and their dramatic journey to freedom in Denver, USA.

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Following the decision of the Bolivian Government to ban the use of animals in circuses, Lion Ark follows the actions of Animal Defenders International (ADI) to enforce the ban, as they rescue all lions in circuses throughout Bolivia and then airlift them en mass to freedom in Denver, Colorado in the USA.

More action packed adventure than a traditional documentary, Lion Ark gets you up close and personal to these magnificent animals, with beautiful cinematography, an exciting musical score and a truly uplifting storyline. 

Will make a great Christmas gift for someone!

Lion Ark is a story of bravery and compassion about a country that said ‘no’ to cruelty and how that decision helped change attitudes towards animals in circuses across a continent and far beyond.

Following the courage of the Bolivian Government to pass and then more importantly to enforce the legislation, countries all over the world have followed their actions including Peru, Chile, Brazil and the United States.

Tim Phillips, Director of Lion Ark, says: “It’s great to finally release Lion Ark to the public on DVD. We wanted people to experience a frontline animal rescue, both the challenges and the joy. The film tackles a serious issue, but is exciting and leaves people with a smile on their face, knowing they can make a difference as they see the lives of these animals transform.”

The DVD features special footage of the ADI’s latest rescue Operation Spirit of Freedom which sees over 100 wild animals saved from circuses and the illegal wildlife trade in Peru and Colombia, culminating in the massive airlift of more than 30 lions from South American Circuses, to Africa.

Money raised from the DVD will go towards ADI’s huge £200,000 habitat construction program for the lions’ forever homes.

Winner of the following awards:

♦ Best Documentary Omaha International Film Festival

♦ People’s Choice Award, Boulder International Film Festival

♦ Best Documentary Alhambra Theatre Film Festival

♦ Audience Award Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival

♦ Audience Choice Best Documentary, San Diego Film Festival

♦ Audience Choice Environmental Film Sedona International Film Festival

♦ Audience Favourite Documentary Palm Beach International Film Festival

♦ Best Documentary Sun & Sand:  The Mississippi Film & Music Festival

♦ Audience Award YES Film Festival

♦ The Animal Award, Cinema Verde Environmental Film & Arts Festival

♦ Audience Choice Best Documentary Anchorage International Film Festival

♦ Nominated: Outstanding International Motion Picture, 45th NAACP Image Awards

Official Selections include:  Raindance Film Festival; Mill Valley Film Festival; Hawaii International Film Festival; Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival; Virginia Film Festival; Starz Denver Film Festival; Beloit International Film Festival; Irvine International Film Festival; Crossroads Festival for Documentary Film & Discourse

To purchase online the Lion Ark DVD costs just £10, click here:

For more information, click here:

For more information about the work of ADI, click here:

PREVIEW: CINECITY The 14th Brighton Film Festival

CINECITY, the 14th Brighton Film Festival runs from November 11-27, 2016 celebrating the very best in world cinema.

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There will be a packed programme of premieres and previews, treasures from the archive and live soundtracks plus free education screenings and special events.

CINECITY is the region’s biggest celebration of cinema and is presented in partnership with Picturehouse Cinemas and the University of Brighton.

Main venues are the Duke of York’s Picturehouse and Duke’s at Komedia but screenings and events will also take place at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Sallis Benney Theatre, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Fabrica, Lighthouse and Latest Music Bar.

Free Fire
Free Fire

CINECITY 2016 opens on Friday 11 at 6.30pm with a special preview of Free Fire, Ben Wheatley’s new action thriller following hot on the heels of High-Rise. Due for release in March 2017, Free Fire was shot entirely on location in a warehouse in Brighton and features Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Sharlito Copley and Arnie Hammer.

web-300-2CINECITY 2016 closes on Sunday, November 27 with Toni Erdmann; the standout film at this year’s Cannes (it received the highest ever star rating at the festival from critics) is a hugely original comedy directed by Maren Ade.

Not to be released until February 2017, this one-off screening is a great chance to see in advance what many regard as the film of the year.

The pioneering American indie film-maker Jim Jarmusch is now into the fourth decade of his career and CINECITY has a Jarmusch Day (Sunday November 13) featuring his two new brilliant films; music documentary Gimme Danger is Jarmusch’s hymn to the legendary Iggy and the Stooges and Paterson, featuring Adam Driver, is his acclaimed new drama.

Uncle Howard
Uncle Howard

Also screening in the festival is Uncle Howard, a new documentary about the life of film-maker Howard Brookner which features contributions from Jarmusch and a host of other key New York cultural figures.

Among a host of must-see, hotly anticipated titles is Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester By the Sea, starring Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, received to ecstatic reviews and a top candidate for Academy Awards; A Monster Calls adapted from his own hugely popular YA novel by Patrick Ness and directed by J.A. Bayona who balances fantasy and tragic reality in a story for all ages; The Best of British cinema talent is represented by A United Kingdom, Amma Asante’s follow-up to her acclaimed 2013 feature Belle and Lady Macbeth, which picked up rave notices after its premiere in Toronto last month.

TICKET DEALS
The best way for cinema-goers to see as much of the festival as possible is to take advantage of the special ticket deals such as the 4 for 3 – which offers a 4th film absolutely free when you buy tickets for 3 films. (This can also be used to get 2 titles free when buying tickets for 6 films). There are also a number of tickets for all festival films priced at just £5 for those aged 25 and under.

Full details of the festival programme and to book tickets, click here:

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