Here are some photos from the upcoming "BONOBOS: BACK TO THE WILD" and a project description. It is one of four titles opening in theatres this summer from Hannover House, and is expected to hit DVD, BluRay and Video-On-Demand during Q4 of this year.
DESCRIPTION – “BONOBOS: Back to the Wild” is the English-language adaption of French director Alain Tixier’s acclaimed documentary, “Beny: Back to the Wild” (a.k.a. “Bonobos”). The film tells the true story of naturalist Claudine André and her work in the Congo to protect the critically endangered bonobo apes. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as “pygmy Chimpanzees,” bonobos are actually a unique species of primate – and the closest cousin of all to mankind (with a shared genetic code that is 98.7% identical to humans).
Over twenty years ago, Claudine André formed the Lola Ya
Bonobo Sanctuary deep in the forest of the central African nation of the
Democratic Republic of Congo. Political
unrest and civil war had taken a toll on the economy, and food was becoming
scarce. Villagers had grown more
aggressive in pursuing live game from the forest as a food source. Despite their status as a protected species,
adult bonobos were being slaughtered for “bush
meat” by poachers, who would often keep the baby apes for black-market sale
as exotic pets. With the support of the
government and local police, Claudine and her team have since rescued over 400
orphaned bonobos and placed them into protective care at her Lola Ya Bonobo Rescue
Center.
The film opens with the story of one young bonobo, Beni,
in the wilds of the equatorial forest with his extended bonobo tribe. Their carefree lives are soon interrupted
when poachers shoot and kill Beni’s mother, and kidnap and crate him for
sale. While in the custody of the
poachers, Beni is abused, teased and malnourished. However, before he can be sold and shipped
overseas, Claudine and a Congolese Policeman successfully locate the poachers
and confiscate the young bonobo.
At Lola Ya Bonobo, Beni is nursed back to health by his
new, human “mothers.” He befriends new
bonobo playmates, and over the coming years he learns survival skills that will
be needed when he reaches maturity. Ultimately, in a bittersweet parting from
Claudine and his Lola Ya Bonobo human family, the fully-grown adult Beni is
released back into the wild.
The story of Beni’s rescue, raising and release is true,
and was skillfully chronicled and re-enacted by acclaimed French documentary
filmmaker Alain Tixier. Shot over a six-month
period in the Congo – and featuring stunning visuals – the film presents the
most revealing look ever into the lives and loves of mankind’s closest
cousin. Claudine André and her
successful bonobo achievements have drawn comparisons to Jane Goodall’s work
with chimpanzees and Dian Fossey’s study of gorillas.
ABOUT THE ENGLISH PRODUCTION
& RELEASE – At the Cannes Film Festival in May of 2014, French
producers SND-Filmes and MC4 concluded the agreement to engage U.S.
producer-director Vivian Schilling to adapt the film for English-speaking
territories, and agreed to a distribution venture with Hannover House, Inc. for North America. Schilling had recently
completed the writing, producing and directing of an English adaptation of the
animated masterpiece “Na Pude,” by
Czech director-animator Jiri Barta.
Retitled as “Toys in the Attic,”
Schilling directed an impressive cast of English-speaking performers who
breathed new life into the discarded toys and knick-knacks that were the
characters of this eclectic film. Voice
talent included Forest Whitaker, Joan Cusack and Cary Elwes.
For “BONOBOS:
Back to the Wild,” Schilling created a version which combines English
narration for Claudine and Beni, with English-subtitles for some of the on camera dialogue. Her goal was to maintain the credibility of
the documentary elements of the film, by preserving the original production
language tracks which are in French and Congolese. The film is structured as a “docu-drama” as it contains some
re-enactments of actual events and features the unique perspective of showing
the world from the eyes of Beni the bonobo.
But the science in the film is all factual and the events are all
true. Most importantly, the film
presents a powerful and emotional message that should invoke passion and
support for this endangered species.
Through an
arrangement with North American distributor Hannover House, Inc., the completed
English-language release will be exhibited at mainstream commercial theatres as well as major Natural History Museums
prior to its release to the home video, video-on-demand and television
markets. 100% of the net revenues after distribution fees and releasing costs will be divided between the World Wildlife Fund and the Lola Ya
Bonobo Rescue Center, to assist with their important work to save and protect
the bonobo species.
TALENT & RECORDING
– Schilling engaged film star
REBECCA HALL (“Transcendence”, “Iron Man
3”, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”) for the voice-role of “Claudine” to balance the superb performance of with
LUKE EVANS (“Hobbit”, “Dracula Untold”) as
Beni. Luke was recorded in February at
the WB DeLane Lea Studios in London. Rebecca
Hall was recorded at Warner Brothers Sync Sound in New York on March 31st.
The film will be mastered onto 2k D.C.P. format with Dolby surround sound
for maximum impact during the Museum exhibitions. Hannover House plans to premiere the film at
a special media event to be held in June in New York City, which is expected to
include the attendance of Claudine André, flying in from the Congo. The film will be launched to theatres and
Museums in top USA Markets commencing July 17.
The home video release will include both DVD and Blu-Ray formats and is
tentatively planned for October, 2015.