Private Project

Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War

One filmmaker's journey to better understand the complex world of wildlife trafficking through the feminine lens. A thorough exploration of the emotional toll poaching and wildlife crime is having on the courageous women fighting on the frontlines.

Filmmaker, Kerry David and her dedicated crew, pursue a passion that takes them around the globe, from the US to Africa and Asia. The filmmaker allows an unlikely group of heroes to reveal their experiences and personal moments which in turn, exposes the emotional toll this silent war is taking on them.

Women of all creeds from the US, Rwanda, Kenya, Vietnam, South Africa are united in this one purpose; to protect the last of our endangered species from disappearing in this multiple award winning documentary.

Breaking Their Silence shines a bright and inspiring light on their intelligence, compassion, strength and tenacity and invokes a deeply passionate response from viewers as they watch these women face and conquer seemingly insurmountable odds.

A hopeful film created to inspire and motivate moviegoers, Breaking Their Silence will challenge everyone to become part of the solution, and arms them with the means to do so.

  • Kerry David
    Director
    Bill Coors: The Will to Live
  • Kerry David
    Writer
    Bill Coors: The Will to Live, Seeking Happily Ever After, My Date with Drew,
  • Kerry David
    Producer
    Agent Cody Banks 1 & 2, Like Dandelion Dust, Making Miles: The Miles Davis Story, Seeking Happily Ever After, Perfect Match, My Date with Drew, Expert Insight: Golf with Jim Furyk & Fred Funk, Deposing The Usual Suspects
  • Petronel Nieuwoudt
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Raabia Hawa
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Edwin Sabuhoro
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Hong Hoang
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Johan Marais
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Keith Watson
    Executive Producer
  • Gunnard N Doboze
    COMPOSER
    Bill Coors: The Will to Live
  • Gretchen Warthen
    Directors of Photography
  • Ebrahim Hajee
    Directors of Photography
  • Ryan Hall
    LOCATION SOUND
  • Jennifer Pfister
    Key Production Assistant
    Bill Coors: The Will to Live
  • Felipe Vargas
    EDITED BY
  • Eric Pritchard
    EDITED BY
  • Mark Zambrano
    Additional Editing By
    Bill Coors: The Will to Live
  • Amy Janes
    Additional Editing By
  • Gunnard N Doboze
    Post Production Supervisor
    Bill Coors: The Will to Live
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Women, wildlife, environment, poaching, anti-poaching, inspirational, community
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 50 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    950,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, United States, Viet Nam
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4k and HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • WorldFest Houstin International Film Festival 2020
    Houston
    United States
    Platinum Remi Award
  • Durango - Winner Audience Best Feature Documentary 2020
    Durango
    United States
    March 29, 2020
    Winner Audience Award for Best Documentary
  • Durango - Winner Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary
    Durango
    United States
    March 28, 2020
    Winner Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary
  • San Diego International Film Festival - Jury Award Best Feature Doc
    San Diego
    United States
    October 17, 2019
    Audience Award for Best Documentary
  • San Diego International Film Festival - Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary
    San Diego
    United States
    Focus On Social Impact Choice
  • New Jersey Film Festival - Best Feature Documentary
    New Jersey Film Festival
    United States
    October 13, 2019
    Winner - Best Feature Documentary
  • New Haven Documentary Film Festival - Winner Best Feature Documentary
    Newhaven
    United States
    October 6, 2019
    Audience Award for Best Documentary
  • San Francisco Documentary Film Festival - Winner Best Feature Documentary
    San Francisco Film Festival
    June 8, 2019
    San Francisco
    Winner - Spirit of Activism Award
  • AFI Cannes - Winner: World Peace Initiative
    Cannes
    France
    Winner “World Peace Initiative” Best Feature Documentary
  • Silicon Beach Intl. Film Festival - Grand Prize Winner
    Los Angeles
    WINNER - Grand Prize: Best Feature Documentary
  • The Impact Docs Award - Winner Award of Excellence

    United States
    Winner and “Award of Excellence” Best Documentary
  • Emerge Film Festival - FINALIST

    Finalist
  • Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival - FINALIST
    Rhode Island
    United States
    Finalist
  • LATCA - FINALIST
    Los Angeles
    United States
    FINALIST
  • Hotsprings International Women's Film Festival - FINALIST
  • D.C. Environmental Film Festival - FINALIST
    Washington D.C.
    United States
    March 21, 2020
    Postponed due to virus
    FINALIST
  • Newport Beach Film Festival - World Premiere
    Newport Beach
    United States
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Wildlife Conservation Film Festival - Opening Screening
    New York
    United States
    January 17, 2020
    Opening Night Screeing
    FINALIST
Director Biography - Kerry David

Bill Coors: The Will to Live - Feature Documentary
Seeking Happily Ever After - Co-Director, Feature Documentary
Boots For Rangers - Director, Short
Rhino & Elephant Relocation - Director, Short

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film has been an extremely emotional journey on both sides of the camera. It combines two of my passions; the belief that we should treat animals with dignity and respect and female empowerment through equality.

When I learned how dire the situation was in Africa and Asia for some of our most iconic species through poaching, I was devastated. I spent hours on the internet researching the poaching epidemic and illegal wildlife trafficking. I realized there was a silent war going on all around us and those who pay the highest price are our disappearing animals in Africa and Asia - and those on the frontline who pay the price emotionally.

I knew that if I truly cared about these creatures I would have to act. But what could I do? I'm not a wildlife specialist, just a filmmaker.

I decided to go to Africa and Asia and learn from those on the frontline - and tell their stories through the female lens. This is our story.

I didn't know if any of the women I reached out to would agree to further risk their lives by speaking with me, a complete stranger, on camera or not, but I knew I had to at least try.

What I could never have predicted was just how vulnerable the women were willing to be, or how emotionally drained they were. They broke their silence in ways I could never have predicted and am forever changed by.

It's astounding what we can achieve when we decide to act. The ripple effects of having made this film are ongoing and have given me great hope for the little time we have left. If we choose to, we can turn this tragedy around but we must all bring our selves to it.

I hope you'll find that this journey is an authentic account of what we learned, and while specific, it is purposefully not gratuitously graphic. It is ultimately uplifting, inspirational and hopeful - as the women I filmed turned out to be.

Kerry David
Producer / Director /Writer
Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War