This thought-provoking exposé (or expawsé) follows comedian Amy Hoggart (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) as she dives into the controversial world of cat declawing in the United States. On the surface, it appears to be a simple, harmless surgery for the convenience of pet owners, but as Hoggart digs deeper, a disturbing…

In the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an animal sanctuary was caught in the crossfire, cut off from sufficient water and resources. Concerned for the welfare of the animals and the safety of nearby villages, a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers risked their lives to achieve the impossible—evacuating…

Winner of the US Documentary Festival Favorite Award at Sundance, EVERY LITTLE THING follows author and wildlife rehabber Terry Masear on her mission to single-handedly save every injured hummingbird in Los Angeles. With breathtakingly detailed cinematography, director Sally Aitken forges emotional connections with Terry’s…

HIFF alum Allison Argo (THE LAST PIG, 2017) invites the viewer to reimagine our relationship with farm animals as one that leads with empathy and care. FOREVER HOME documents the heartwarming journey of building the Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, a unique animal sanctuary in North Carolina founded by Lenore Braford and Paul...

Filmmaking legend Werner Herzog (INTO THE INFERNO, HIFF 2016) follows Dr. Steve Boyes through the wooded, mist-shrouded Bié Plateau of Angola in his search for evidence of an elusive herd of giant elephants, who have gone undetected by modern technology for decades. Boyes sets out with master trackers from Namibia to achieve...

Happy the elephant was captured as a baby and has been confined for the past 40 years. An historic court case examines the question: is she also a…