Created in 2012, Compassion, Justice & Animal Rights is a HamptonsFilm Signature Program that explores this important movement on film. Bringing together animal advocacy, environmental and social justice issues, our Animal Rights program provides a platform for filmmakers to share meaningful information, stories of inspiration, and tools for creating a safe and humane world for animals.
This year’s Compassion, Justice & Animal Rights Signature Program will present the US Premiere of Todd Bieber’s AMERICAN CATS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE CUDDLY, which explores the issue of cat declawing in the United States and the powerful industry lobby that not only promotes but profits from the controversial procedure; Joshua Zeman’s CHECKPOINT ZOO, documenting a daring rescue led by a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers at a zoo at the center of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine; and the New York Premiere of Sally Aitken’s EVERY LITTLE THING, following subject Terry Masear as she finds a sense of healing from her own past through tending to fragile yet resilient hummingbirds.
CHECKPOINT ZOO will also receive the festival’s Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award, which recognizes a film in the section that raises public awareness and provokes discussion about the moral and ethical treatment and the rights of animals. Given by Zelda Penzel, long time educator, advocate for animal rights, and a volunteer at HIFF since its inception, the award is accompanied by a $2,500 cash prize.
dir. Todd Bieber (USA), 2024
In this documentary, comedian Amy Hoggart (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) dives deep into the controversial world of cat declawing in the United States. On the surface, it appears as a simple, harmless surgery for the convenience of pet owners, but as Hoggart digs deeper, a disturbing nationwide conspiracy unfolds. Through interviews with veterinarians, activists, and pet owners, the documentary unveils a powerful industry lobby that not only promotes but profits from this inhumane procedure. As Hoggart navigates the maze of misinformation, she discovers the profound physical and psychological effects declawing has on our feline friends. AMERICAN CATS is a thought-provoking exposé that challenges the ethical implications of our choices and calls for a nationwide reflection on our treatment of animals. And also lots of jokes and cute kittens.
dir. Joshua Zeman (USA), 2024
Winner: 2024 Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award
In the shadow of Russia’s shocking invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a heart-wrenching drama unfolded at Ecopark Feldman, a beloved zoo near Kharkiv. As bombs fell and gunfire echoed, 5,000 innocent animals found themselves trapped in the crossfire of human conflict. Desperate and running out of hope, the zoo’s founder, Oleksandr Feldman, made an impassioned plea that touched millions worldwide. In a testament to human compassion, volunteers and zookeepers united, risking their lives to save these helpless creatures. Through the lens of filmmaker Joshua Zeman, we witness the raw emotion and unwavering dedication of those who refused to abandon these voiceless victims of war, reminding us of the profound connection between humans and animals even in the darkest of times.
New York Premiere
dir. Sally Aitken (Australia), 2024
A film of joy and wonder, EVERY LITTLE THING offers profound truths in a deceptively simple story. What does it mean to care for another, and what impact does this act have on us? In tending to fragile yet resilient hummingbirds, Terry Masear finds a sense of healing from her own past. Her diminutive patients—brought into sharp focus through breathtaking, beautifully detailed photography—become memorable protagonists in their own right. The viewer becomes emotionally invested in Cactus, Jimmy, Wasabi, Alexa, and Mikhail, celebrating their small victories and lamenting their tiny tragedies. The compassion and empathy that Masear shows her Lilliputian charges serves as a lesson to us all — a reminder that in the smallest of acts, and in the tiniest of creatures, we might find grace.
Passes and packages for HIFF32 go on sale September 4. A HamptonsFilm Members pre-sale for individual tickets begins September 21, with individual tickets to the general public on sale September 23. Join today for early ticket access. More programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
The 32nd annual Hamptons International Film Festival will run October 4-14, 2024, with in-person screenings and events taking place across the Hamptons. HIFF thanks this year’s festival sponsors: new Presenting Sponsor Artemis Rising; returning sponsors Premiere Sponsor Audi; Signature Sponsors UBS and King & Spalding; official Media Partners WNBC, The Atlantic, The East Hampton Star, The Purist, and Variety; Contributing Sponsors Naturopathica, Silvercup Studios, Netflix, Assemble Media, and Dragon Hemp; and foundation supporters New York State Council on the Arts and Suffolk County Film Commission.
