Private Project

Humans and Elephants

An eco-tourist realized his experiences visiting elephants in national parks and sanctuaries in Cambodia and Sri Lanka have unintended consequences.

  • Alexander Leonard
    Director
    Founder of AL Media
  • Cody Dodds
    Animators
    Freelance Animator living in London, Canada
  • Millie Young
    Animators
    Freelance Animator living in Ayutthaya, Thailand
  • Richard Sok
    Animators
    Freelance Animator living in London, Canada
  • Chandima Fernando
    Interviewees
    Ecologist & GIS Specialist for SLWCS
  • Chathuranga Dharmathne
    Interviewees
    Research Scientist for SLWCS
  • Jessica Cordes
    Interviewees
    Volunteer Coordinator alongside Elephant Conservation Centre in Laos
  • AL Media
    Producer
    Video Production Studio in London, Ontario
  • Think Elephant International
    Producer
  • Alex Leonard
    Editors
    Director, Audio Engineer, Narrator
  • Ben Durham
    Editors
    Co-Founder of Defiant Sheep Productions
  • Alex Leonard
    Audio Engineers
    Director, Editor, Narrator
  • Lliam Buckley
    Audio Engineers
    Founder of Corduroy Studios
  • Elephant Conservation Center - Sayaboury, Lao
    Conservation Parks and Centres
    2017 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor
  • Elephant Valley Project - Mondulkiri, Cambodia
    Conservation Parks and Centres
    Featured by National Geographic, BBC, Lonely Planet, World Animal Protection, and more.
  • Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society - Wasgamuwa, Sri Lanka
    Conservation Parks and Centres
    Internationally recognized research for Project Orange Elephant
  • Save Elephant Foundation - Chang Mai, Thailand
    Conservation Parks and Centres
  • Krystle Millo
    Photographers
    Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Celine Gibert
    Photographers
    Elephant Conservation Center
  • Anne Boyd
    Voice Talent
  • John Leonard
    Voice Talent
  • Kelly Peckham
    Special Thanks to
    My Mentor
  • David Oulette
    Special Thanks to
    Leap Junction
  • Kelsey Currie
    Special Thanks to
    Leap Junction
  • Alex Leonard
    Writer
  • Axel Thesleff - "Bad Karma"
    Music Credits
  • CHEE - "Get Hot" ft. Noclu
    Music Credits
  • ZIMT - "Sri Lanka"
    Music Credits
  • Youtube Audio Library
    Music Credits
  • Epidemic Sound
    Music Credits
  • Motion Array
    Music Credits
  • Adobe Stock Audio
    Music Credits
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student, Other
  • Genres:
    Short Documentary, Environmental, Wildlife, Conservation, Travel, Drama, Research based
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 25, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sri Lanka, Thailand
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    DJI Mavic Pro, Sony A7iii, Cam
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • International Peace Awards
    Toronto
    Canada
    Official Nomination
  • Climate North (Formerly My Climate Journey Toronto) Screening
    Toronto
    Canada
    August 31, 2023
    Private RSVP Sold-Out Screening
    Official Selection / Event Organizer
  • Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    March 3, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    February 4, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Honorable Mention
  • Cambodia International Film Festival
    Phnom Penh
    Cambodia
    June 28, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Tulum World Environmental Film Festival
    Tulum
    Mexico
    June 12, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Colorado Environmental Film Festival
    Colorado
    United States
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alexander Leonard

"Humans and Elephants" is the debut film made by Alex Leonard, a current graduate student at Western University in London, finishing his Masters in Environmental Sustainability.

The film has been 8 years or so in the making, following Alex's journey as an elephant ambassador visiting numerous research facilities, sanctuaries, and national parks. The documentary follow's Alex narrative as he discovers the significance and impact of both tourists and local people in their relationship to elephants.

From fundraising in highschool for a sanctuary to traveling at 18 years old visiting the Elephant Valley Project in Western Cambodia, Alex has had several experiences interacting with elephants. Over the years, Alex always kept a camera by his side, which has helped bring the film to life. Alex has fundraised for elephants in Montreal through art sales, presented about their wellbeing in Canada and the UK, conducted research in Sri Lanka, and now created a film about the topic to help educate others.

Elephant conservation has always been a film that Alex has been passionate about and he now hopes to continue his objective of sharing that love for these sentient beings with others.

Humans and Elephants is a compassionate and surprising story about the role that both elephants and humans have on each other in shared spaces over time.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Humans and Elephants is a short documentary told through multiple perspectives, revealing the shortcomings and successes of elephant tourism throughout parts of Asia.

I would love to hear from you and what you took away from my documentary!

You can reach me at 519-902-0340 in Canada or via email at alexleonardmedia@gmail.com from anywhere.

I hope that you consider my film eligible for your film festival. I am focusing to start by submitting my film to environmental film festivals in hopes that it is picked up to help raise awareness.

I wanted my film to spark a larger conversation about tourism and the impact people have, to make them more considerate when abroad next.