PROVOCATIVE DOCO ON THE ETHICS OF ANIMAL FARMING GETS NATIONAL CINEMA RELEASE

Ground breaking documentary, The Animal Condition ( HERE ), is set for a national cinema release this August and September via new Cinema-On-Demand platform Fan-Force.com. The thought provoking documentary charts the journey of animal welfare in Australia from a fringe issue to a nationwide debate.

After stumbling upon activist videos of suffering farm animals online one night, four young friends take an investigative road trip around Australia. Unafraid to ask questions, the filmmaker’s views on the subject change as they speak to all sides of the debate, from activists and welfare agencies to government and industry. It soon becomes clear that the animal condition spreads far beyond the farm gate.
Director Michael Dahlstrom says “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“.

Three and a half years in the making, and with over 400 hours of footage shot, the documentary features interviews with industry heavyweights (Australian Pork Limited and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), federal politicians (the then Minister for Agriculture Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig and the Hon. Bob Katter MP), animal welfare advocates (Lyn White and Peter Singer), Indigenous Australians, immigrant factory workers, philosophers and scientists.

The documentary screens at a time when conversation between the animal industry and welfare groups continue on a national level. The debate has recently been reignited when in late 2014 the Minister for Agriculture announced plans to make filming in farms without permission illegal. These have been dubbed the ‘ag-gag’ laws and if passed, members of the public who film and report animal cruelty could face prosecution. On the flip side, farmers and those within the animal industry often feel harassed by rights groups and misrepresented in the media.

Following sold out sessions at the Melbourne International Film Festival, CinefestOz and Portland Film Festival in the U.S., current screenings 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

Fan-Force is a revolutionary way to enjoy cinema. Fans and community groups can nominate which film they want to see and in which cinema. If enough tickets are sold, then the screening goes ahead.
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.

Background …

The Filmmakers
The Animal Condition is a collaboration between four NIDA graduates who met in 2007-08 during their studies. Shortly after graduating they picked up a camera and spent three years filming their experiences as they travelled the country documenting the many ways humans relate to the animals they eat.

MICHAEL DAHLSTROM – Director, Producer, Writer, On-Screen Investigator
A Directing graduate of NIDA and Monash University (BPA Hons in Spectacle Theatre), Michael Dahlstrom has directed theatre in Melbourne and Sydney – most notably Cherry Smoke by James McManus. Nominations include: Best Documentary, The Animal Condition, Film Critic’s Circle of Australia (2014) and Best Newcomer, Writer & Director for Vena und Schnitzel, Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2006). Michael’s second documentary collaboration, It’s Not About the Sex, will be released later this year.

ANDE CUNNINGHAM – Producer, Writer, On-Screen Investigator
Ande studied English and Film at the University of Sydney and received a Bachelor of Dramatic Art in Acting from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). He also studied the Advanced Screenwriting Program of the University of Southern California (USC). As an actor, in addition to roles in Australian theatre, he has worked in Australian, US and NZ television such as SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND, PACKED TO THE RAFTERS, VENUS AND MARS, BOMBSHELL, feature film BACKYARD ASHES, and video game L.A. NOIRE. Ande’s screenplay THE ERAe was a finalist of Cinequest and second place in Slamdance 2014 screenwriting competitions. He recently made his directorial debut with the short film RAKER, and is developing the feature screenplay. His latest short as writer and director, ORANGES DON’T GROW ON TREES, will make its festival premiere in February 2016. 

SARAH-JANE MCALLAN – Producer, Writer, On-Screen Investigator
A Screen Producers of Australia ‘Ones To Watch’ 2014 emerging producer, SJ is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, NIDA, (BDA Design), the Australian Film Television and Radio School, AFTRS, (Postgrad Dip in Screenwriting) with extensive background in business administration. Recent credits include feature documentary THE ANIMAL CONDITION (producer & production Manager) ; her postgraduate short film THE WONDERFUL (writer), winner of the 2014 Best Tertiary Fiction ATOM Award, screening at numerous international festivals ; and newly completed short ORANGES DON’T GROW ON TREES (producer, production manager, production and costume designer) making its festival premiere in February 2016.

AUGUSTA MILLER – Producer, Writer, On-Screen Investigator
A multi-disciplinarian, Augusta Miller (BDA, NIDA) works as a documentary filmmaker and factual TV producer. Previous work includes dialogue, music editing and lyric writing on Warner Bros animation, Happy Feet Two. Also narrating Judy Rymer’s acclaimed ABC documentary, Risking Our Kids. Augusta regularly collaborates on ABC2’s Hack Live programs and has produced content for NBC Universal. Her documentary directing debut, It’s Not About the Sex, will be released later this year.

ABOUT FAN‐FORCE.COM
Fan-Force.com is a revolutionary new ‘cinema-on-demand’ platform enabling fans, organisations and businesses to book any film in any cinema they choose – and even raise funds from screenings. Fan‐Force’s unique approach removes the financial risk from cinema screenings – sessions only proceed if enough tickets are reserved first. The platform has already helped to launch a number of other films across the country such as the hugely successful ‘That Sugar Film’, ‘Wyrmwood- Road of the Dead’, The Emperor’s New Clothes’ by Russell Brand and ‘Awake-The Life of Yogananda”.
Matt Fraser, Amy Owen