Poster for LAND OF THE FREE: OUT OF THE SHADOWS, directed by James Ganiere, AFIN 2024

Short Documentary AFIN 231

LAND OF THE FREE: OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Directed by James Ganiere

AFIN 2024 Winner · 2 awards

  • 2024
  • 39m
  • Australia
  • English
  • M
Australian
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Stills

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Frame from the trailer

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Credits

Synopsis

Shot in Uganda, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, London, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Australia, both overtly and covertly, “Land of the Free: OUT OF THE SHADOWS” goes where no film has ever dared to go before to expose the full depth of subversion and the disinformation campaigns perpetrated by the trophy hunting industry.

Director's Statement

James Ganiere, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN.

Possibly one of the most important movies of our time, while there still is time, to reverse a tragedy our grandchildren will never forgive us for. It's time to "take out the trash" and put the heinous practice of LEGALLY slaughtering endangered species for nothing more than pride, pleasure and profit, into the dustbin of history where it belongs alongside mankind's other shameful past.

From the Judges

From the Judges

Assured direction shapes this urgent conservation documentary, its score lending weight to a subject the panel found both beautiful and genuinely important. A thoughtful structure carries you through informative, absorbing interviews toward a stunning and daring closing sequence with the animals that lingers well after the credits. A real eye-opener that holds your attention from the first frame to the last.

Curated, anonymised highlights drawn from the judges' notes.

Director's Biography

James Ganiere, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN. James Ganiere Director

Awards 20 wins & 4 nominations 2022
Santa Fe Film Festival
Won, Best Feature Film
Audience Choice for No More Goodbyes
Rio Vista Universal (production company) 2022
Vegas Movie Awards
Won, Vegas Movie Award
Best 1st Time Director / Feature for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Won, Vegas Movie Award
Best Ensemble Cast for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Won, Vegas Movie Award
Best Romance for Rekindling Christmas (2020) 2022
WorldFest Houston
Won, Silver Award
Best Feature - Family & Children for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2022
Wyoming International Film Festival
Nominated, Jury Award
Best Narrative Feature Film for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
Cannes World Film Festival
Won, Monthly Award
Best Nature/Wildlife for Land of the Free: In the Shadows (2020)
Story Telling Magic, Rio Vista Universal 2021
Daytime Emmy Awards
Nominated, Daytime Emmy
Outstanding Short Form Daytime Fiction Program for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
Florence Film Awards
Won, Florence Film Award
Best Short Documentary for Land of the Free: In the Shadows (2020)
Story Telling Magic, Rio Vista Universal, a.film AKA Productions
Won, Honorable Mention
First Time Director for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal
Won, Florence Film Award
Best Director Feature Film for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal
Won, Florence Film Award
Best VFX for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal
Won, Florence Film Award
Best Producer for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal
Won, Florence Film Award
Best Feature Film for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
Hollywood Gold Awards
Won, Silver Award
Feature Film for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
London Movie Awards
Won, November Award
Best Picture for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
Marina Del Rey Film Festival
Won, Grand Prize
Best Short Documentary for Land of the Free: In the Shadows (2020)
Story Telling Magic, Rio Vista Universal, a.film AKA Productions
Won, Audience Choice
Best Short Documentary for Land of the Free: In the Shadows (2020)
Story Telling Magic, Rio Vista Universal, a.film AKA Productions 2021
Milan Gold Awards
Won, November Gold Award
Best Picture for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
New York Movie Awards
Won, November Award
Best Feature Film for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
Paris Film Awards
Won, November Award
Best Picture for Rekindling Christmas (2020)
Rio Vista Universal 2021
Philadelphia Film Festival
Nominated, Jury Award
Best Short Film for Land of the Free: In the Shadows (2020) 2021
Vienna International Film Awards (VIFA)
Nominated, Vienna International Film Award
Best short documentary for Land of the Free: In the Shadows (2020)
Story Telling Magic, Rio Vista Universal, a.film AKA Productions
2010
IndieFEST Film Awards
Won, Award of Excellence
Best Trailer for Back from the Dead (2013)
Rio Vista Universal

Trailer

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LAND OF THE FREE: OUT OF THE SHADOWS was Winner of Best Documentary Short Subject and Best Original Score at the AFIN International Film Festival 2024, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

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