Saving America’s Horses A Nation Betrayed came away with four awards from the 34th annual International Wildlife Film Festival.
Winner: Cinematography, Editing, Conservation Message and Advocacy; Filmmaker Katia Louise was honored with these prestigious awards for her work amongst some of the most renowned wildlife television and film producers in the world. The film was very well received by viewers
“Powerful and compelling” – Greg MacGillivary, MacGillivary Freeman Films
“A must see film” – Michael Blake, “Dances With Wolves”
“Hard hitting and well done” – Janet Rose, Executive Director of IWFF
The International Wildlife Film Festival shared a strong focus on the wild horse issue as presented in the film Saving America’s Horses A Nation Betrayed. The festival was attended by Missoula’s moviegoers, elite fine arts community, humanitarians and philanthropists together with an international cross section of award winning wildlife filmmakers and conservationists. During the festival’s symposium and panel presentations there were passionate and somewhat heated discussions on the topic of wild horses versus feral horses. However nobody challenged the inhumane treatment of equines through the slaughter pipeline or of wild equines during their capture by the BLM.
Several local advocates attended Saturday’s screening and came back prior to Tuesday’s screenings with their horses to hold a rally downtown for the purpose of raising awareness about the film and the cause. Montana Senator Dave Wanzenried attended the rally and walked along side filmmaker Katia Louise in sync with the local advocates.
Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed is a compelling compilation of expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories shot against the dramatic backdrops of the American countryside. Viewers will adventure across the nation’s sweeping landscapes to witness the magnificence, power and free spirit of one of America’s most treasured icons, the horse.
The facts unfold in a story about the underdogs and their fight to protect today’s wild Mustangs and yesterday’s Thoroughbred racehorses. The untold truth as reported by the nation’s top equine experts, celebrity and grassroots horse advocates draws a sharp contrast to misleading information initiated by proponents of slaughter and propagated by the media. This film presents a focused look into an unseen world of both wild and domestic equines; an investigative exposé that unravels multiple layers of conflict with a revealing look into the hidden pipeline of horses. Great hope is presented through an inspiring and diverse call to action leaving viewers with the inspiration and knowledge to effect change and convey the same to others.
Featuring appearances with Paul Sorvino, Michael Blake, Willie Nelson, Tippi Hedren, Linda Gray, Chief Arvol Looking Horses, Ken Wahl, The Barbi Twins, Amy & Raelyn Nelson, Jennifer Pryor and more!
Awards to Date:
Winner: Best of Festival – 2011 Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival
Winner: Award of Merit for Visuals, Editing & Advocacy – Accolade Competition
Winner: Cinematography, Editing, Conservation Message and Advocacy – 34th Annual International Wildlife Film Festival.
The film will screen next at the Artivist Film Festival in Los Angeles which runs July 8th- 10th 2011.
Watch the trailer at www.savingamericashorses.org
See reviews at http://www.savingamericashorses.org/filmreviews.html
Link suitable for Facebook: http://savingamericashorses.blogspot.com/2011/05/saving-americas-horses-nation-betrayed_15.html
Link to PDF: http://www.savingamericashorses.org/IWFF%20Honors%20Saving%20America%27s%20Horses_051511.pdf
Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
I understand this film is going to show again in LA at a film festival July 8-10. Am trying to find out day and time it will show as there are some of us who saw it once who want to see it again. There is a lot of information presented and it does leave you feeling overwhelmed. I am happy that Katia got the award for editing as that must have been a monumental task.
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Morgan…Katia will be letting me know the specifics as soon as she finds out and we will be sure to let you know.
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This is an excellent production. To be more effective it must be widely exposed to the general public with a lot of advanced publicity on when and where it is going to be shown. People that are not daily involved with horses but who do care about what is being done to them must be made aware but will never hear of it otherwise. Presenting it as a program on television could be helpful and perhaps could be fit in with the work of the Cloud Foundation that has had so much success in educating the public on this continuing betrayal of these living symbols of America by the government that is supposed to be protecting them. It is obvious the lame stream media will ignore or denigrate it. Although “horse world” advocates are numerous and passionate, hard experience and disappointment has proven they are not enough to effect widespread positive changes without a much larger public outcry than has been evident so far through this whole debacle.
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PBS would be a good place to start. Ginger has brought Cloud and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses into many American living rooms. People from all over the world now know about America’s Wild Horses. These Horses are loved all over the planet.
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This film is start. Id like to see it.. we just took in another race horse off the track he’s a former harness horse. He has to learn to be a horse again. He can only stand to be out side for two hours and waits at he gate to be let back in. Its going to take some time with him. He’s very sweet and good. His name is Stylish Guy and just turn 9 and was retired early after he was claimed two years ago and was reclaimed by his owner who decided to retire him. He’s young enough to learn new skills. His heart wasn’t into racing any more. which is fine by us. Most Harness horse don’t get a second good chance at life Some end up with the Amish who treat them like cars and run them into the ground. They have a way of life that is simple but when it comes to horses acquired they treat them inhumanely.
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Sorry I got off track on the film, I would like to see it. I hope it goes viral.
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I have found one of the biggest tourist scams around is the Gentle Folk Amish myth!! They are the ones in the livestock auctions that Animals Angels monitors who have been found beating, prodding, whipping and ignoring downed and injured animals. One Amish kid is on a notorious video doing martial arts moves on a lone goat in holding. The Amish keep their carriage horses standing in the hot sun, with the check rein on (a strap that keeps their head “fashionably high” while in harness) with no water,—- they literally use them up till they can be discarded like a piece of equipment. They have been one of the largest groups implicated in the puppy mill industry. The hoary myths about the Amish are a tourism industry money generator, and horses, being their mode of transport, are terribly abused.
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A follow-up on the “Gentle Folk” Amish scam—check out the website detailing Torah Botranger’s escape from the clutches of her Amish life—google Escaping the Amish. There is a photo of her at 15 just before she ran away with the aid of a uncle in Montana who had left the Order. The Amish have a reported epidemic of incest and beating of children, some as young as infancy. On her list of “negatives” from living under the religion, you will see “animal abuse” I have always nursed a healthy scepticism of religion, as I feel it too often excuses any ethical lapse as “God’s mysterious will”
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Is there any way for people here in St. Louis, MO., to be able to watch this? Where, when, how ??? Or, will it be made available to rent or buy as a DVD?? Or, online?
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