CHECKPOINT ZOO, directly from its win at the Hamptons International Film Festival!
Thursday, October 17, 2024 @ 7:00 PM
Screening at The First United Methodist Church
603 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Q&A with director, Joshua Zeman on Zoom moderated by Juliette Passer, J.D., Lecturer, Political Science Dept., Stony Brook University following the film.

***Representatives from the following animal rescue organizations will be attending to talk about their work in the local community:
Strong Island Rescue League, President, Frank Floridia; Jaeger’s Run Animal Rescue Inc., Lisa Jaeger, Coordinator and the Sweetbriar Nature Center, Janine Bendicksen, Curator, Wildlife Rehabilitation Director.***

In the early stages of the Russian-Ukrainian War, almost 5,000 animals were trapped behind enemy lines in the Feldman Ecopark, a beloved animal refuge in Ukraine's second-largest city, and found itself caught in the crossfire. With the invading Russian army on one side and the Ukrainian front line on the other, the 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. 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. With gripping interviews and powerful footage captured by the participants, this film sheds light on an often overlooked aspect of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, reminding us of the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to abandon hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.
2024 / USA & Ukraine / English, Russian & Ukrainian Director: Joshua Zeman
Running time: 108 minutes

Individual tickets, $10, at: www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com/ticketsvenues or at the door on the night of the screening.