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Call of the Crow

Catherine is a wildlife rehabilitator in Virginia who rescues a young, injured crow named Apollo. As Apollo grows older, he becomes a cherished bird education ambassador for Catherine’s rehabilitation facility and the local community. When it is discovered that Apollo can speak human words, Catherine faces a challenging decision: should she rehome him so he can reach his full potential, or will their bond be too strong to separate?

  • Sarah King
    Director
  • Elizabeth Green
    Producer
  • Brian Terrill
    Producer
  • Lindsey Aranson
    Editors
  • Sarah King
    Editors
  • Sarah King
    Cinematographer
  • Lindsey Aranson
    Location Sound
  • Emily Brady
    Location Sound
  • Brian Terrill
    Location Sound
  • Will Rothermel
    Sound Design and Mix
  • Sarah King
    Graphics and Color Correction
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Wildlife, Environmental
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 7, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - American Universtiy
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • WETA / PBS Broadcast & Streaming
    Arlington, VA
    United States
    November 29, 2025
    North American Premiere
  • Spotlight Documentary Awards
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    Nominee: Best Documentary Short
  • Ocean City Film Festival
    Ocean City, Maryland
    United States
    March 7, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Community Stories Film Festival
    Silver Spring, Maryland
    United States
    March 14, 2026
    Official Selection
  • ATL DOC – Atlanta Documentary Film Festival
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    March 19, 2026
    Official Selection
  • American University Visions Awards
    Washington, D.C.
    United States
    Nominee: Best Graduate Thesis Documentary
Distribution Information
  • WETA / PBS
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Sarah King

Sarah King is an award-winning cinematographer based in Washington, D.C., specializing in environmental documentaries that explore wildlife and the complex human-Earth relationship. She holds a BFA in Filmmaking with a concentration in cinematography from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and has recently graduated from American University, earning an MFA in Film and Media Production with a concentration in Environmental and Wildlife Filmmaking. Through research and meaningful conversations, Sarah communicates ideas and knowledge to a diverse audience using vivid imagery.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Two years ago, I was warmly welcomed at the Diva Crows Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility in Virginia when I reached out to volunteer. Catherine and the other volunteers took me under their wing, and over the course of a year, I became fully immersed in the world of birds. The standout stars for me were the crows, especially Apollo, a remarkable bird I grew to love dearly. This experience inspired my MFA thesis project, the documentary “Call of the Crow.” It's a love letter to wildlife rehabilitation: to the women in conservation whose work often goes unseen, and to wildlife like crows, who are frequently misrepresented in Western popular media and overlooked in city landscapes.