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.
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Kerry DavidDirectorBill Coors: The Will to Live
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Kerry DavidWriterBill Coors: The Will to Live, Seeking Happily Ever After, My Date with Drew,
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Kerry DavidProducerAgent 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
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Petronel NieuwoudtKey Cast"Self"
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Raabia HawaKey Cast"Self"
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Edwin SabuhoroKey Cast"Self"
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Hong HoangKey Cast"Self"
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Johan MaraisKey Cast"Self"
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Keith WatsonExecutive Producer
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Gunnard N DobozeCOMPOSERBill Coors: The Will to Live
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Gretchen WarthenDirectors of Photography
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Ebrahim HajeeDirectors of Photography
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Ryan HallLOCATION SOUND
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Jennifer PfisterKey Production AssistantBill Coors: The Will to Live
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Felipe VargasEDITED BY
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Eric PritchardEDITED BY
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Mark ZambranoAdditional Editing ByBill Coors: The Will to Live
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Amy JanesAdditional Editing By
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Gunnard N DobozePost Production SupervisorBill Coors: The Will to Live
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Project Type:Documentary, Feature
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Genres:Women, wildlife, environment, poaching, anti-poaching, inspirational, community
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Runtime:1 hour 50 minutes
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Completion Date:April 30, 2019
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Production Budget:950,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, United States, Viet Nam
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:4k and HD
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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WorldFest Houstin International Film Festival 2020Houston
United States
Platinum Remi Award -
Durango - Winner Audience Best Feature Documentary 2020Durango
United States
March 29, 2020
Winner Audience Award for Best Documentary -
Durango - Winner Jury Award for Best Feature DocumentaryDurango
United States
March 28, 2020
Winner Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary -
San Diego International Film Festival - Jury Award Best Feature DocSan Diego
United States
October 17, 2019
Audience Award for Best Documentary -
San Diego International Film Festival - Audience Award for Best Feature DocumentarySan Diego
United States
Focus On Social Impact Choice -
New Jersey Film Festival - Best Feature DocumentaryNew Jersey Film Festival
United States
October 13, 2019
Winner - Best Feature Documentary -
New Haven Documentary Film Festival - Winner Best Feature DocumentaryNewhaven
United States
October 6, 2019
Audience Award for Best Documentary -
San Francisco Documentary Film Festival - Winner Best Feature DocumentarySan Francisco Film Festival
June 8, 2019
San Francisco
Winner - Spirit of Activism Award -
AFI Cannes - Winner: World Peace InitiativeCannes
France
Winner “World Peace Initiative” Best Feature Documentary -
Silicon Beach Intl. Film Festival - Grand Prize WinnerLos 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 - FINALISTRhode Island
United States
Finalist -
LATCA - FINALISTLos Angeles
United States
FINALIST -
Hotsprings International Women's Film Festival - FINALIST
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D.C. Environmental Film Festival - FINALISTWashington D.C.
United States
March 21, 2020
Postponed due to virus
FINALIST -
Newport Beach Film Festival - World PremiereNewport Beach
United States
World Premiere
Official Selection -
Wildlife Conservation Film Festival - Opening ScreeningNew York
United States
January 17, 2020
Opening Night Screeing
FINALIST
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
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