Russell Simmons, music mogul, entrepreneur, and vegan animal advocate will host the New York premiere of the independent feature film Bold Native, the first fiction film about the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a non-centralized group of animal liberators and economic saboteurs that the FBI calls their top domestic terrorist priority. This special press event and screening will be held on Monday July 26 at 6 p.m. at Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street), in New York City. Doors will open to members of the press at 6 p.m. and the film will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for the 9:15 p.m. screening.
In Bold Native, Charlie Cranehill (newcomer Joaquin Pastor), an ALF member wanted by the government for domestic terrorism, emerges from the underground to coordinate a nationwide action, while his CEO father (Randolph Mantooth, Emergency) tries to find him before the FBI does. Simultaneously, a young idealist campaigns for more humane treatment of farmed animals on behalf of a large nonprofit organization, and a woman from Charlie's past threatens to undermine his plans.
"We need more creative, fun, impassioned and entertaining movies like Bold Native to drive the important message of animal rights to the masses, " Simmons said.
The film reflects a growing cultural debate about the use of animals for food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research. It introduces viewers to the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) of 2006, a law which enables the prosecution of activists as terrorists if their actions result in economic damage to corporations in animal industries like factory farms, slaughterhouses, research labs or fur farms. In addition to narrative storytelling, the film incorporates undercover footage from labs, farms, and real-life animal liberations for stunning realism.
"The animal rights movement is unique both in seeking to endow rights to sentient beings currently classified as property, and in terms of government targeting, indicting and imprisoning activists, even for involvement in above-ground, constitutionally protected protest activity," said producer Casey Suchan. "The ALF does break the law, but they outright forbid any action that might cause harm to humans or non-humans -- a track record unmatched by even the FBI itself."
"Bold Native is first and foremost an adventure story about people who risk their freedom for the lives of the innocent and defenseless," said writer/director Denis Hennelly. "While it's a film about a serious subject, it's also a celebration of life, so it has a sense of humor and playfulness that people don't expect."
Simmons will be available for interview and photos at 6:15 p.m. and will introduce the film at 7 p.m. A second screening will begin at 9:15 p.m. Following each screening, there will be a Q&A with Suchan, Hennelly, and stars Joaquin Pastor and Nik Tyler and social justice activist Andy Stepanian, who served three years for nonviolent activism that targeted an animal research lab.
About Open Road Films
Open Road Films develops and produces quality movies across several genres. Prior to Bold Native, its most recent film was Rock The Bells, a critically acclaimed documentary on the final performance of hip-hop artists Wu-Tang Clan prior to the death of frontman Ol' Dirty Bastard. Rock The Bells earned comparisons to Woodstock and Gimme Shelter and has been called the best film about hip-hop ever made. Whether documentary or narrative, Open Road Films chooses experience over comfort, daring over safety, and mythology over conventional wisdom.
For press passes please contact rsvp@boldnative.com with "NY Press" in the subject line. To schedule an advance interview with Russell Simmons, Casey Suchan, Denis Hennley, Joaquin Pastor, Nik Tyler, or Andy Stepanian please email Danielle Thompson at press@sparrowmedia.net with "BN Interview" in the subject line.
Here's a preview of the Bold Native trailer:
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"But before leaving we wanted to make sure that Geoffrey Douglas, the owner of the farm, was left under no illusion to what we think, and to remind him that we're not bothered by his noisy alarm system or his security lights – thanks, it helped us see where your delivery vans were.
"We lit up the night sky in our own way as flames engulfed the vehicles.
"You are quite isolated on Highgate Lane and we're sure to return and leave more messages until you do the right thing and pull out once and for all.
"This is just a little warning. If we have to come back again the next time we will not be so nice. You only have one choice, make it soon. For the animals we will fight. MFAH."
This quote is from an ALF type organization in England.. Does this not seem HARMFUL to you? These are terrorists.. make no mistake..
This is a work of art that deals with all of the issues which confront anyone who wants to see non human animals become a part of the moral community and to be free from the terrors of human oppression. This is a film about liberation...not just the liberation of the other animals but about the liberation of the activists who fighting for animals freedom...are being demonized and imprisoned by lies and laws which are unconstitutional.
you MUST be kidding.. animals NOT harmed?? animals set loose from their "imprisonment" to be killed slowly through starvation, death by other predators.. and worse.. hardly what I would call "no harm".. No humans harmed?/ well I guess if you are waiting for a cure for a disease and the animals being used to effect that cure are released.. you might find that harmful to a human or two. if you work in the lab.. or in the grocery store. or even a shoe sore. or any other place that deals with animals or animal products you might think it was harmful when you lost your job.. ALF is a terrorist group.. no more.. no less. I have no idea who Russell Simmons is and don't want to know.. but that is one film I won;t be seeing.. and if anyone shows up to the premiere wearing leather shoes.. you can just call them a HYPOCRITE...Veganism is a cult.. one that wishes all animals to be "free" which of course means that domestic animals will be extinct.. the true agenda of ALF..
Normally I don't respond to ignorant comments like yours. However, I've begun to get tired of your CCF funded reactions on the vegan themed writings all over Huff post.
I'll make it simple for you. Veganism is not a cult. Please look up the definition and you'll soon realize that killing animals for food, clothing and entertainment etc..is much more in line with cultish behaviour than the rejection of that violence.
A vegan is simply someone who has looked at the world and the way humans oppress and kill other humans, including the other animals for strictly selfish, unnecessary reasons and have decided...to reject that way of living. Vegans are simply people who reject the false belief system that non human animals lives are not as important as human lives.
Veganism is simply about not viewing all animals (humans included) as merely pieces of property but rather as living individuals with feelings and a right to live their lives free from other humans oppression.
Good luck with your venture...