Resources

Documentaries on Human-Animal Issues

This list of documentary titles does not constitute an endorsement of their content, nor verification of the accuracy of the information they present. This survey is intended to chart the production of documentaries (1949-present) casting a critical eye on animal exploitation in the modern world.

 

  • The 11th Hour. 2007. 1 hr. 35 min. Dirs. Leila Conners (as Leila Conners Petersen), Nadia Conners. Prod. Appian Way, (more). Film site. Wikipedia listing.  IMDB listing: “A look at the state of the global environment including visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet’s ecosystems.”

 

  • The Age of Stupid. 2009. 1 hr. 32 min. Dir. Rachel Howell. Wikipedia listing. IMDB listing. “A future archivist looks at old footage from the year 2008 to understand why humankind failed to address climate change.”

 

 

  • Animals – Friend or Food? 2003. 1 hr. 12 min. Dir. Jason Andrew Young. Montreal: National Film Board of Canada. IMDB listing.

 

 

 

  • Beef, Inc. 1999. 50 min. Dir. Carmen Garcia. Montreal: National Film Board of Canada. (Review)

 

 

 

  • Behind the Mask: The Story of People Who Risk Everything to Save Animals. 2006. 1 hr. 12 min. Directed by S. Keith. U.S.A.: Uncaged Films. Wikipedia listing. YouTube full-length.

 

  • Blackfish. 2013. 90 min. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Producer: Manuel Oteyza. Cast: Kim Ashdown, Ken Balcomb, Samantha Berg, Dawn Brancheau, Dave Duffus [UVic], Daniel Patrick Dukes, Howard Garrett, Dean Gomersall, John Hargrove and Carol Ray. Wikipedia listing. IMDB listing. YouTube full-length.

 

 

 

  • Carnage: Swallowing the Past. 2017. 1 hr. 8 min. Dir. Simon Amstell. IMDB listing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Dominion. 2018. Dir. Chris Deforce. Aussie Farms. Trailer. IMDB listing. “Feature-length documentary sequel to 2014’s Lucent…. A comprehensive account of the numerous ways animals are used and abused in Australia.”

 

 

  • Earthlings. 2005. 1 hr. 35 min. Dir. Shaun Monson. U.S.A.: Nation Earth. Wikipedia listing. IMDB listing. YouTube full-length (graphic images, mature viewing only). Drawing parallels between racism, sexism and speciesism, Earthlings “chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.”

 

  • Eating Animals. 2017. 1 hr. 45 min. Dir. Christopher Dillon Quinn. Narrated by Natalie Portman. IMDB listing.

 

 

 

  • Eating Our Way to Extinction. 2018. Dirs. Ludo Brockway, Otto Brockway. IMDB listing.

 

 

 

 

 

  • For the Animals. 2016. 20 min. Insightful Films. [Documentary about animal advocate and marathon runner Fiona Oakes who runs farm sanctuary in England.] Youtube full-length.

 

 

  • Game Changers, The. 2017. Dir. Louis (Louie) Psihoyus, (The Cove), Executive Producer James Cameron. Film site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Meat, 1976. 1 hr. 52 min. Dir. Frederick Weisman. Black and white. IMDB listing.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Mission Blue. 2014. 1 hr. 40 min. Dirs. Robert Nixon, Fisher Stevens. Features marine work of Sylvia Earle. Film Site. IMDB listing.

 

  • No Country for Animals. 2010. Dir. Karen Pinker. Canada (Global National, aired on Global TV) [#1 in the ‘Revealed’ documentary series. Credit also to Kevin Newman]. Vimeo full-length.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Salmon Confidential. 2013. 1 hr. 11 min. Director: Twyla Roscovich. [VIFF Most Popular Canadian Environmental Documentary Award, 2013] Vimeo. IMDB listing.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Terra. 2015. 1 hr. 37 min. Dirs. Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot. Narrated by Vanessa Paradis. Colt Productions, Hope Productions. (In French with English subtitles). IMDB listing.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Unlocking the Cage. 2016. 1 hr 31 min. Produced, directed and filmed by Chris Hegedus, co-director DA Pennebaker. Lawyers Steven Wise and Elizabeth (Liddy) Stein. Official site. Wikipedia listing. IMDB listing.