The producers of the feature film BLOOD LIONS, Wildlands and Regulus Vision, are pleased to announce that they have secured both local and global distribution for the film, BLOOD LIONS.

PBS International have picked up the global rights to the film, and will be distributing the film worldwide, outside of South Africa.

Indigenous film distribution will handle the South African rights.

Blood Lions follows acclaimed environmental journalist and safari operator Ian Michler, and Rick Swazey, an American hunter, on their journey to uncover the realities about the multimillion-dollar predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa. It is a story that blows the lid off all the conservation claims made by the breeders and hunters in attempting to justify what they do.

Tom Koch, Vice President of PBS International: “Blood Lions is a rare program that reveals the dark and brutal side of trophy hunting in Africa. Programs like this are equally rare and exceptional and should be seen by audiences around the globe. We are proud to represent this film to the international community.”

Helen Kuun of Indigenous Film Distribution:“We are honoured to be able to showcase the film on the big screen to audiences around South Africa over the next few months. As part of the awareness campaign it is of great importance to create a way for audiences and media alike to interact with the film in a cinema environment. The DVD will be available next year.”

Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands and Executive Producer: “Blood Lions exposes the cons of Lion breeding and hunting in South Africa. Over 900 lions are hunted each year, with 99% bred for the bullet. They are hand-reared by paying volunteers that believe they are saving “Africa’s Lions”. 4 days after their release from a life in captivity they are considered wild and can then be shot by hunters looking for a guaranteed kill; or slaughtered for the Lion bone trade to China. We have to stop this barbaric and fraudulent practise and believe that Blood Lions will help us do this.”

Pippa Hankinson of Regulus Vision:

“Blood Lions was produced to create global awareness. It a call to action – to encourage all who view it to make conscious choices. I believe we are all accountable. We are being challenged as to our roles and responsibilities regarding our relationship with and treatment of these magnificent creatures – indeed all animals – not only for us, but for future generations to come.”

“The Blood Lions campaign is starting to get significant traction. Since the launch, we have been overwhelmed by the global response across all sectors of society. This should serve as a clear indication to governments and the various authorities around the world that they need to come together to close down predator breeding facilities and canned hunting operations” says Ian Michler.

Interest in the film has exploded since its reception of a standing ovation at its World Premiere at the recent Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), on 22nd July. The overwhelming response to the film and issues it raises on social media has been phenomenal, with the likes of Ricky Gervais and Ellen Degeneres tweeting the film and stories.

The killing of “Cecil the Lion” in Zimbabwe in an allegedly illegal hunt has brought the spotlight to South Africa’s practices of canned hunting, and a massive interest in the film, from both ordinary people and wildlife organizations, has enabled the producers to fast-track the distribution of the film.

The film commenced targeted and curated theatrical screenings across South Africa on the 14th August, and rolled-out across the country thereafter. PBS have commenced the international sales of the film globally.

Documentary feature film “Blood Lions”, which exposes the ugly story of South Africa’s captive breeding and canned hunting industries, will be screened in Sydney, Australia on Friday, 4 September. The screening comes at a time when the Australian government is discussing a complete ban on the importation of all African lion trophies into Australia.

The producers of the film, Wildlands and Regulus Vision, secured global distribution for the highly praised film with PBS International. In South Africa, the rights for the film are being handled by Indigenous Film Distribution.

“This is a rare and exclusive event,” says Helen Kuun. CEO of Indigenous Film Distribution. “The Sydney screening will be attended by Ian Michler, the environmental journalist and safari operator who has the lead role in the documentary, as well as the film’s producer Pippa Hankinson. A Q&A session and panel discussion will be held after the screening, giving the audiences further insight into the dark underbelly of the canned hunting world.”

“Blood Lions” follows Ian Michler, and Rick Swazey, an American hunter, on their journey to uncover the realities about the multi-million dollar predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa.

Every single day in South Africa at least two to three captive bred or tame lions are being killed in canned hunts. Hundreds more are slaughtered annually for the lion bone trade. The documentary reveals the full extent of the notorious industry, which serves no conservation purpose of the species whatsoever.

The “Blood Lions” story is a compelling call to action to have these practices stopped. Currently, almost 8 000 predators are being held in cages or confined areas, and none of this has anything to do with conservation. If no action is taken, that number could well be over 12 000 within the next few years.

Michler has followed the story of captive bred lions since 1999. The documentary follows him as he goes to breeding farms to witness the impacts that decades of intensive breeding is having on the captive lions and other predators.

Aggressive farmers and most within the professional hunting community resent his questioning, but the highly profitable commercialization of lions is plain to see – cub petting, volunteer recruitment, lion walking, canned hunting, trading and the new lion bone trade are on the increase. All are justified under the guise of conservation, research and education.

At the same time, “Blood Lion” also trails Swazey, the hunter who purchases a lion online from his home in Hawaii. He then travels to South Africa to follow the path of canned hunters. Trophy hunters, operators and breeders, as well as recognized lion ecologists, conservationists and animal welfare experts also feature in the comprehensive documentary.

The film shows in intimate detail how lucrative it is to breed lions, and how the authorities and most professional hunting and tourism bodies have become complicit in allowing the industries to flourish.

On 7^th October, MSNBC will present the American television premiere of “Blood Lions,” a compelling documentary which takes audiences inside the so called “canned lion hunting” industry in South Africa. Blood Lions will air at 22.00 on the East Coast and at 23.00 (West Coast).

“Blood Lions” follows environmental journalist and safari operator, Ian Michler, and American hunter, Rick Swazey, as they expose the multi-million dollar industry of canned hunting – where lions are bred and raised in confined areas for trophy hunting.  Also known as captive bred lion hunting, canned hunts allow hunters to select their lion ahead of time and complete a hunt in a matter of days.  Canned hunts provide a cheaper and faster way of hunting predatory animals compared to wild lion hunts.

It’s a world many Americans do not know exists and yet, Americans are in large part the ones fuelling the industry.   In the wake of the hunting and death of Cecil the lion, the film reveals a dark dimension to trophy hunting in Africa.

The documentary includes the perspective of both proponents of this practice who say that hunting helps preserve Africa’s lion population and conservationists who are quick to dispute that claim.

Senior Producer for MSNBC, Tim Smith, commented that: “Blood Lions is a revelatory and sad tale that demands to be told – and we are pleased to be able to bring it to our viewers.”

Ian Michler, environmentalist and a lead character in “Blood Lions”, had this to say:   “While it is true that the majority of trophy hunters coming to South Africa are from the USA, and that many of them are going after captive-bred lions, it is equally true that Blood Lions is also receiving significant support in the USA; And this support ranges from donors and the wider citizenry who are concerned or outraged about what is going on to decision-makers and politicians. I would like to thank all of you – the millions of Americans who have been so outspoken and vociferous about predator breeding and canned hunting – your support has been vital to raising the profile of Blood Lions around the world. For all of us, the first screenings of the film here are very exciting and we so look forward to getting actively involved in the campaign across your great country.”

Producer, and driving force behind the film, Pippa Hankinson said:   “We have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary response that “Blood Lions” has received from so many across the USA, and are immensely grateful to MSNBC for the incredible opportunity to premiere this important story on American television.   The film exposes the cruel exploitation of South Africa’s lions which are being intensively bred on farms resembling large scale puppy mills.   These magnificent animals are being bottle fed and hand reared simply for the bullet – for vast profits – in an industry which is not open to public scrutiny.   “Blood Lions” is a call to action – a call to all who view it to make conscious choices around our responsibilities towards our planet and the amazing creatures with whom we have the privilege to share it.   Our hope is that our film will help make the changes that are so needed, to ensure that our children’s children will be able to see these majestic animals roaming free in the wild – where they rightfully belong!”