Described by critics as "uplifting" and "the feel-good movie of the year," Lion Ark is heading to L.A. after taking the film festival circuit by storm over recent weeks with sell out shows at Raindance London, Mill Valley Film Festival, Starz Denver Film Festival, and scooping Audience Choice Best Documentary at San Diego Film Festival.
What is engaging audiences in a new way is that Lion Ark is more action adventure style than traditional documentary. The film tells the story of a team from Animal Defenders International (ADI) that secured a ban on animal circuses in Bolivia, and then, when the circuses defied the law, set about rescuing every animal.
Lion Ark is all live action and commentary, close up and personal, right in the thick of the rescue. As close as you get to these animals, understanding them and the effects of circus life. See the undercover investigations that changed a continent; the lobbying; the enforcement of the circus animal ban in Bolivia. Circuses that defy the new law are tracked down, animals saved, and a joyous finale sees 25 lions airlifted to freedom in Colorado.
The rescue was funded by Emmy award-winning TV host Bob Barker and Lion Ark Associate Producer, ADI Ambassador and CSI actress Jorja Fox; both appear in the film and explain their feelings about the rescue.
On November 15th, an exclusive VIP Los Angeles Lion Ark premiere will take place at the Charles Aidikoff Screening Room in Beverly Hills to help raise money for another epic circus animal rescue - this time to help the government of Peru to remove their illegal circus animals. Guest of honor Bob Barker will be joined by Corey Feldman (Stand By Me, The Lost Boys), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Lynne Marie Stewart (Pee-wee's Playhouse), Kate Linder (The Young and the Restless), Kim Matula (The Bold and the Beautiful), K Callan (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Lee Purcell (Stir Crazy, Valley Girl), Daphne Wayans (VH1's Hollywood Exes), and others for this special night.
Lion Ark will also be playing for a qualifying week at the Laemmle Music Hall 3, Beverly Hills, from November 15th- 21st. On November 16th and 20th, audiences will meet the filmmakers Director Tim Phillips and Producer Jan Creamer for Q&A sessions.
Tim Phillips, Director of Lion Ark says: "Lion Ark is deliberately close-up and personal, you are in there with the rescuers. We made the film from live footage and the story is told by the people who were there. It shows what people can do when they get together and decide to take action. The response from audiences has been fantastic."
Tickets to the LA VIP Screening at Charles Aidikoff Screening Room 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 on November 15, 2013 at 6:30pm. The screening will be followed by vegan canapés and wine. Tickets, priced at $500, reflect the limited number of places available and the urgency of the situation in Peru. Book now here.
Tickets to the one week qualifying run at Laemmle Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, November 15-21, 2013; 12pm, 2:20pm, 4:50pm, 7:20pm and 9:55pm. Special screenings on Saturday, November 16th and Wednesday, November 20th feature Q&A sessions with Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips after the 2:20pm and 7:20pm shows. Ticket prices vary, based on date & time. Book tickets here.
LION ARK SCREENINGS:
NOVEMBER 15th: VIP Los Angeles Premiere
6:30pm at Charles Aidikoff Screening Room, 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
This special screening, followed by vegan canapés and wine, is to raise money to rescue Peru's circus animals, as the Lion Ark team did in Bolivia. The Peruvian Government has asked Animal Defenders International to help enforce the circus ban we have secured there, and remove the animals. Space is strictly limited. Tickets, priced $500, reflect the limited number of places available and the urgency of the situation in Peru. Book now here.
NOVEMBER 15th - 21st: Los Angeles screenings
12pm, 2:20pm, 4:50pm, 7:20pm and 9:55pm at Laemmle Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Ticket prices vary, based on date & time.
Q&A with Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips on Saturday, November 16th and Wednesday, November 20th after the 2:20pm and 7:20pm screenings. Book tickets here. NOVEMBER 15th - 21st: New York screenings 1:15pm and 6:30pm at QUAD Cinema, 34 West 13th Street, New York NY 10011 Q&A with Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips on Sunday, November 17th after the 6:30pm screening, and Monday, November 18th after 1:15pm and 6:30pm screenings. Book tickets here.
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