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Remembering Bob (U.S.A, 2004)
(13 minutes)
'Remembering Bob' won the inaugural Genesis Outstanding Student Award (USA) for first time film director Maria Brenner. This short film depicts the true story of a farm boy's affection for a young pig and how the boy is forced, as he grows into a hardened teenager, to accept his destined role as a hog slaughterer.
The film's principal message is that it doesn't take courage to do what you're taught. The courage is doing something different.
In 'Remembering Bob', Maria Brenner has produced a sensitive film that is apropos for all ages. She has more character development in this almost one-quarter hour film than many mindless Hollywood movies have in two hours. The viewer senses that Clifford is a real person struggling with an ethical dilemma that people around him are ignoring. He makes no pronouncements about animal rights, but his actions clearly convey the theme of the film.
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 Harvie Krumpet (Australia, 2003)
(22 minutes)
' ...Some are born great
some achieve greatness
and some have greatness thrust upon them
and then there are others... '
'Harvie Krumpet' is the biography of an ordinary man seemingly cursed with perpetual bad luck. The central message is of acceptance of differences and includes vegetarian and environmental themes also.
This short feature claymation film is written and animated by Adam Elliot and narrated by Geoffrey Rush. 'Harvie Krumpet' has won many awards at Film Festivals around the world, including the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
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 McLibel (U.K., 2005)
The postman and the gardener who took on McDonalds and won.
'McLibel' is the story of two ordinary people who humiliated McDonald's in the biggest corporate PR disaster in history.
McDonald's loved using the UK libel laws to suppress criticism. Major media organisations like the BBC and The Guardian crumbled and apologised. But then they sued gardener Helen Steel and postman Dave Morris.
In the longest trial in English legal history, the "McLibel Two" represented themselves against McDonald's ?10 million legal team. Every aspect of the corporation's business was cross-examined: from junk food and McJobs, to animal cruelty, environmental damage and advertising to children.
Outside the courtroom, Dave brought up his young son alone and Helen supported herself working nights in a bar. McDonald's tried every trick in the book against them. Legal manoeuvres. A visit from Ronald McDonald. Top executives flying to London for secret settlement negotiations. Even spies.
Seven years later, in February 2005, the marathon legal battle finally concluded at the European Court of Human Rights. And the result took everyone by surprise - especially the British Government.
'McLibel' is not just about hamburgers. It is about the importance of freedom of speech now that multinational corporations are more powerful than countries.
Filmed over ten years by no-budget Director Franny Armstrong, 'McLibel' is the David and Goliath story of two people who refused to say sorry. And in doing so, changed the world.
An earlier version of the film, 'McLibel: Two Worlds Collide' was released in 1997 and was seen by more than 22 million people worldwide.
"Absolutely unmissable" - The Guardian
"More twists than a John Le Carre novel" - Bermuda Sun
"A landmark documentary" - oneworld.net
"Will satisfy both head and heart" - Time Out
"Intriguing and at times hilarious" - The Scotsman
"The sort of film Michael Moore probably thinks he makes" - The Sunday Times
"Freedom of speech rarely tasted so satisfying. " - The Times Online
"Dynamite. " - Yahoo Movies
"Charming and inspiring" - Radio Times
"Hilarious and engrossing" - BBC website
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A Road Less Travelled (New Zealand, 2004)
(3 minutes)
A character portrait on Mark Kerr-Bell, vegan 'Organic World' shop owner and his two vegan dogs Jersey and Makatwo. Directed by Nichola Jones and Sarah Preissler in year one at Unitec Performing and Screen Arts School.
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Jill's Film (U.K. 2005)
An inspiring and beautiful film about the life and tragic death of animal liberation activist, Jill Phipps. The film tells the life story of this incredibly dedicated activist, while weaving in the history and achievements of the animal rights movement in the UK, and the wider social and political issues and movements of the time. A personal window to the often hidden history of resistance movements.
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 Shooting Vegetarians (U.S.A. 2005)
(85 minutes)
Neil, a punk rock vegetarian, is being forced to go into the family butcher business. He decides to save the world instead.
In this eccentric independent comedy, Neil (Guillermo Diaz) is a vegetarian who is into punk rock, skateboarding, and his girlfriend, Daisy (Reiko Aylesworth). However, working for a living isn't one of Neil's strong suits, and in time his father decides it's time Neil came into the family business. This is problematic for Neil, since his dad runs a butcher shop; after a few days, Neil can't handle the slaughter, and exacts a strange form of justice on his father. Meanwhile, both Neil and his close friend Austin (Neil Driscoll Jr.) find they've both become obsessed with the manager of their favourite coffee shop. Directed by Mikey Jackson.
(?lodie Bouchez). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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