Film
Global Premiere: To the Moon and Back + Q&A
- Director
- Andrew Telling
- Certificate
- TBA
- Running Time
- 54 mins
It’s a practice so unspeakably barbaric that it’s hard to believe it actually happens. Across China and Vietnam, more 10,000 Asiatic black bears (moon bears) are kept as prisoners in tiny, coffin-sized cages. They endure unimaginable pain and torment for up to 30 years, their abdomens and gall bladders crudely penetrated by catheters to collect bile. And for what? Traditional Chinese medicine, beauty products and even wine. Although synthetic alternatives are freely available, the absurd demand for ‘natural’ ingredients condemns these animals to a life of torment.
But there is some good news. Back in 1993, British-born Jill Robinson founded the animal welfare movement Animals Asia. This has created two beautiful bear sanctuaries spanning more than 180,000 square metres and has brought about a foreseeable end to bile farming in Vietnam. Narrated by actor Peter Egan, To the Moon and Back tells Robinson’s story from her own perspective. It features contributions from a vareity of celeb supporters, including Downton Abbey actress Lesley Nicol, Born Free founder Virginia McKenna OBE and Guns n’Roses drummer Matt Sorum. It’s been described by Ricky Gervais as “a wonderful, heart-warming film about a truly inspirational woman”. This world premiere is presented by Wildscreen and will be followed by a Q&A with members of the production team. Advance tickets, price £5, are available here.
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