EXCLUSIVE: When Russia launched its brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, among the first defenseless victims were animals in a zoo in Kharkiv, very close to the Russian border. Big cats, bears, wolves, orangutans, kangaroos, birds and many other species – all dependent on humans for survival – endured unimaginable terror as Russian shells exploded around them and the skies filled with tracer fire.
Animals possibly in the hundreds were reportedly killed, as well as three zoo workers who stayed behind to feed their charges. The assault triggered a desperate attempt to evacuate surviving animals, a dramatic story told in the documentary Checkpoint Zoo. Appian Way Productions – the company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio — is teaming up with Osmosis Global and Abramorama for a late summer theatrical release in North America for the film directed by Joshua Zeman.
We have your first look at the film in the exclusive trailer above.
Abramorama
“In the early days of the Ukraine-Russian war, the Feldman Ecopark, a beloved animal refuge in Ukraine’s second largest city, found itself caught in the crossfire,” notes a description of the film by Tribeca Festival, which host the world premiere of Checkpoint Zoo last year. “With the invading Russian army on one side and the Ukrainian front line on the other, thousands of animals were left trapped with little food and water. Against all odds, a courageous team of zookeepers and volunteers risked their lives to embark on a seemingly impossible mission: bringing these innocent creatures to safety.
“Set against the unique backdrop of the Ukraine war, Checkpoint Zoo offers a fresh perspective on the unintended victims of human conflict. Through the eyes of these trapped animals, the film examines the heartbreaking consequences of war while celebrating the extraordinary bravery and compassion of those who fought to save them.”
Rescuers evacuate a camel in ‘Checkpoint Zoo’
Abramorama
In a statement, Zeman highlighted inspirational dimensions to the story.
“As a filmmaker, it’s so rare to find a story that is so uplifting – so hopeful— that it brings tears to your eyes,” he said. “That’s the power of stories about animals. Watching these men and women, dodging bombs while carrying a lion to safety – it restores your faith in humanity. I think audiences are craving these types of stories right now – stories about real-life heroes who embody empathy, compassion, and selflessness.”
The theatrical release for Checkpoint Zoo will begin in New York City. Screenings hosted by the director and special quests are planned nationwide. The film has won numerous honors, including Best Documentary at the Miami Film Festival, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, and the Annapolis Film Festival, and the Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival. At the Palm Springs International Film Festival, it won the Desert Views Award and the Audience Prize for Best Documentary Feature. It has also won audience awards at Tribeca Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, and Salem Film Fest.
‘Checkpoint Zoo’
Abramorama
Abramorama presents a Ghost Robot in association with Noah Media Group Limited and Appian Way production of a Joshua Zeman film Checkpoint Zoo. Executive producers are Barry Smith, Catherine Quantschnigg, Gabriel Clarke, John McKenna, Bonamy Grimes, Jennifer Davisson, Phillip Watson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Shawn Singh. Producers are Ian Davies, Torquil Jones, Zachary Mortensen, and Joshua Zeman.
Cinematography is by Nelson Hume and Olivier Sarbil. Cy Christiansen, Andrew Ford BFE, Kelly Kendrick, and Daniel Lonsbury edited the film. The original score was composed by Anne Nikitin.
Watch the trailer for Checkpoint Zoo above.
Content shared from deadline.com.