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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Wild Horse Advocate and Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker, Ginger Kathrens Screens Latest Cloud Film in Chicago

Makendra Silverman

Tel: 719-351-8187

For Immediate Release


Wild Horse Advocate and Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker, Ginger Kathrens Screens Latest Cloud Film in Chicago

Filmmaker Hailed as the Jane Goodall for the American Wild Mustang 

Chicago, IL (December 10, 2009)—Ginger Kathrens brings wild horse drama to Chicago this weekend with a series of screenings and public appearances for all ages beginning today through December 13th. Last Monday the filmmaker joined many other critics of Department of Interior Secretary Salazar’s proposal to move 25,000 American wild horses and burros from their native ecosystems in the West to pastures and corrals in the Midwest and East at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Advisory Board meeting in Reno, NV. Kathrens, who has studied and filmed the mustangs in their natural environment for more than 15 years, welcomes the Chicago area public to learn about the American wild mustang—their lives, their families and the threat of extinction they are facing now. 

“15 years ago I set out to do a film about wild horses. My fascination with these amazing animals grows stronger every year as I discover more and more about their behavior and survival strategies. Yet, the existence of entire wild horse herds is threatened by BLM decisions allowing privately owned livestock to dominate the use of public lands designated principally for wild horses. —Ginger Kathrens, Emmy-award winning filmmaker and creator of the popular PBS Cloud Documentaries. 

Kathrens’ latest documentary film, Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions, premiered on PBS’s Nature series, sponsored by WNET in New York City in October 2009.  This latest film is part of her series focusing on a small, historic wild horse herd in the Rocky Mountains and the pale palomino stallion, Cloud. The documentaries represent the only known documentation of a wild animal from birth in our hemisphere. The programs follow Cloud from the day he was born through the seasons of his life amongst the colorful wild horses of the Pryors, a remote herd with unique Spanish bloodlines.

“The American public loves mustang stories—the drama of their lives, their struggle for survival and their ability to remain strong and free, even in harsh conditions.  These wild horses are a living metaphor of our collective will to remain free, defy adversity and overcome sometimes impossible odds.”  —Ginger Kathrens

In light of the controversial BLM winter roundups now going on in California (Dec. 7-14) and scheduled to start in Nevada (Dec. 28), Ginger Kathrens joins with Sheryl Crow, Lily Tomlin, Bill Maher and other celebrities as well as scientists and more than 175 organizations asking President Obama for a moratorium on wild horse roundups until a long-term solution to protect and preserve wild horses on public lands in the west is formalized.

“Ginger Kathrens is the Jane Goodall for the American wild mustang.  She is a naturalist, witness, advocate, educator and filmmaker.”—Sheryl Crow


Schedule of Events 

  • Thursday evening, December 10- Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions, screening and discussion with the filmmaker, 7:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 1024 Lake Avenue, WilmetteFree 
  • Friday evening, December 11 - Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions, screening and presentation, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., University of Illinois Conference Center1100 E. Warrenville Road, Naperville. $10 ($5 students)
  • Saturday morning, December 12 – Book, DVD signing and discussion with Ginger Kathrens. 10:00 a.m, The Book Stall, 811 Elm Street, Winnetka. Free
  • Saturday afternoon, December 12 - Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions, screening and presentation, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Hoffman Estates Northern Illinois University Conference Center, 5555 Trillium Blvd., Hoffman Estates $10 ($5 students)
  • Sunday morning, December 13 - A Stable-side Chat with Ginger Kathrens: film clips interwoven with discussion. 10:30am-12:30pm at Danada Equestrian Center - 3 South 501 Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL $10 ($5 students). 
  • No tickets or RSVP required. 
  • For further details and information please contact:
  • Valerie Kennedy 312-371-4933kennedy@thecloudfoundation.org 
  • Makendra Silverman 719-351-8187, makendra@thecloudfoundation.org

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Of interest:
NY Times: US Plan for Wild Horse Round-Up Faces Opposition
Unified Moratorium letter and signatories
The Cloud Foundation and Ginger Kathrens
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971
2009-2010 Roundup Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions on Wild Horses


Photos, video and interviews available from:
The Cloud Foundation
719-351-8187 or
719-633-3842

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