Disappointment Valley... A Modern Day Western
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For Immediate Release
Star Studded Wild Horse Documentary Hits Santa Barbara Film Festival
New Film Reveals Ruthless Destruction of Wild Horse and Burro Herds on Public Lands
Santa Barbara CA (February 8, 2009)—Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation appears in James Kleinert’s newest film, Disappointment Valley...A Modern Day Western screening now at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This feature-length documentary examines the politics behind the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) controversial policies on public lands and questions the fate of America's wild horses and burros, whose very existence is in jeopardy. Screenings are Monday, February 8th 4:45pm Metro 4, Theatre IV and Thursday, February 11th 6:30pm at Victoria Hall. For more information call 805-963-0023 or visit the festival web site at www.sbiff.org.
The film includes interviews with Jim Baca, (former Director of the Bureau of Land Management under the Clinton Administration), Michael Blake, (Writer, Dances With Wolves and Wild Horse Advocate), Ginger Kathrens (Emmy-Award filmmaker of the Cloud Series), Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen, Daryl Hannah, scientific experts, animal rights activists and environmentalists as well as examines the effects of the 2004 legislation that cleared the way for the removal and slaughter of America’s wild horses.
"We are losing wild horses in the west as a rogue government agency is left unchecked. Our government needs to start listening to the public outcry out or our American mustangs will go the way of the buffalo," states Ginger Kathrens, Emmy-award winning filmmaker and Executive Director, The Cloud Foundation. "The Bureau of Land Management is not just trying to destroy wild horses, they're really challenging the system of democracy in the US and this is a very, very dangerous path they've gone down.
Disappointment Valley is an inspiring reminder to take action to protect America’s wild horses and burros and to preserve our public lands in the West. A 20 minute Q & A after the screenings with Director James Kleinert and Dr. Elliot Katz (Founder, In Defense of Animals to participate in Q & A on Thursday, February 11th).
Disappointment Valley documents the struggle of an animal that has long symbolized freedom, individualism and unbridled passion in America. Kleinert examines the origins and effects of the recent "Burns Bill" which gutted the Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971 and cleared the way for the removal and slaughter of wild horses in America. Greed and corruption take center stage, exposing deceit within the Department of the Interior. The film also explores the current impacts on western public lands by oil, gas, mining and corporate cattle grazing. The once free-roaming horses now face euthanasia, or worse, being shipped to Mexico for brutal slaughter.
With over ten years of filmmaking and six documentaries, James Kleinert continues to release film projects dealing with American Indian stories as well as environmental and action sports themes from his company, Moving Cloud Productions. His short film, Wild Horse Spirit, was part of the Emmy award winning show Natural Heroes that aired on PBS. Kleinert’s driving force is to empower the human spirit, mind and body in a harmonious nature.
“I hope this film will not only educate viewers about the disturbing, massive removals of our horses but inspire change for the future of these precious animals,” explains James Kleinert.
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For press inquiries please contact Weil Public Relations, 818-341-3646 / 818-378-8995, rachel@weilpr.com
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