The provocative Australian documentary The Animal Condition is set for a national cinematic release beginning this week via new Cinema-On-Demand platform, Fan-Force.
The documentary follows four NIDA graduates who take an investigative road trip around Australia after coming across online activist videos of suffering farm animals one night. Unafraid to ask questions, the filmmaker’s show their own doubts about extreme oppositional views to rigorous livestock production as they speak to all sides of the debate. Their views on the subject continue to change as they question everyone from activists and welfare agencies to government and industry folk. As the documentary reveals, it becomes apparent the issue of animal conditions extend far beyond the farm gate.
The film, directed by Michael Dalstrom and produced and written by Dalstrom, Ande Cunningham, Sarah-Jane Mcallan and Augusta Miller, is a 3-and-a-half-year, 400 hours of footage shot collaboration that effectively explores the issue of animal welfare in Australia spread from an unconventional issue to a nationwide discussion that affects all.
“This isn’t just another animal welfare film, it’s a documentary about human and animal suffering; the dying farmer unable to keep his operating costs low enough to break even, the activist jailed for refusing to pay trespassing fines and the animals caught in the middle,” said Dahlstrom.
With sold-out sessions at the Melbourne International Film Festival, CinefestOz and Portland Film Festival in the U.S., current screenings across Australia already running on Fan-force include:
• Hobart: Wed 17 Aug – The State Cinema Hobart
• Canberra: Mon 22 Aug – Dendy Cinemas Canberra
• Brisbane: Wed 24 Aug – Event Cinemas Myer Centre
• Sydney: Wed 14 Sept – Event Cinema George St
• Darwin: Wed 28 Sept – Deckchair Cinema
If there isn’t a screening in your local area and you think you’d be able to rally enough troops to put one on, log into Fan-Force.com to learn more about hosting your own screening of The Animal Condition.
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