Joshua Zeman Documentary ‘Checkpoint Zoo’ Facts Animal Rescue

Joshua Zeman’s most up-to-date characteristic documentary “Checkpoint Zoo,” an inspiring story that unfolds in a war-torn part of the globe, has wrapped principal pictures. The film tells the tale of the daring rescue of around 5,000 animals that had been trapped in a wildlife park behind enemy traces through the early times of the Russian-Ukrainian War. 

“Checkpoint Zoo” was made by Zeman and Zach Mortensen for Ghost Robotic, with Ian Davies and Torquil Jones for Noah Media Group, which is also funding the job.  UTA Independent Film Group has signed on to direct around the globe product sales of the photo.

In the early days of the war, a beloved animal refuge known as Feldman Ecopark, positioned in Ukraine’s 2nd greatest city, was in a precarious place. On a person aspect of the park was the invading Russian army on the other sat the Ukrainian entrance line. With hundreds of animals trapped with small foodstuff and h2o, a team of males and women risked their lives to bring them to protection.

The filmmakers have secured special accessibility to Feldman Ecopark and its workers, as very well as hundreds of hours of remarkable video and audio recordings that have been designed by the park keepers and volunteers as they documented their evacuation.  

“’Checkpoint Zoo’ is a filmmaker’s dream for the reason that it just grabs the viewer on so numerous stages,” states Zeman. “Not only is it edge of your seat suspenseful, but it is also profoundly emotional simply because it explores our deep connection with animals. Highlighting the tales of these authentic-lifetime heroes reveals that even in humankinds’ darkest days, we can nevertheless find unbelievable tales of empathy and compassion.

Zeman is most effective recognized for directing “Cropsey,” a search at the feasible authentic-existence inspiration for a New York Town city legend. He also directed two genuine criminal offense series, “Murder Mountain” and “The Sons of Sam,” each of which appeared on Netflix. Most a short while ago, Zeman directed “The Loneliest Whale,” which was govt developed by Leonardo DiCaprio and attained three Critics Preference Awards nominations, together with in greatest character movie. 

In his 25 a long time of creating documentary movies, Mortensen’s operate contains “Modulation,” an exploration of electronic songs, and “Hell Dwelling,” the tale of an evangelical megachurch’s Halloween spectacle. He is the co-founder of Ghost Robotic, a New York Town-based mostly innovative studio.

Noah Media producers Ian Davies and Torquil Jones worked alongside one another on the Sky documentary “Villeneuve Pironi.” Earlier Jones produced and directed “14 Peaks: Nothing at all is Impossible” for Netflix.

The deal concerning UTA and NMG was brokered by Travis Trammero from UTA and Catherine Quantschnigg from NMG.