Elephants Hit the Big Screen in the US
The U.S. tour of A Life Among Elephants began with a premiere at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) in Washington, DC, where the film made its U.S. debut to a packed theater. The icing on the cake was the film receiving the Flo Stone & Roger D. Stone Award for Outstanding Artistry in Filmmaking.
Left to right: STE’s CEO, Frank Pope, DCEFF’s Executive Director, Monica Schorn, Maramedia Film Director, Nigel Pope, Maramedia Film Producer Jackie Savery, Conservationist, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, Maramedia Filmmaker, Justin Purefoy, and STE’s HEC Project Coordinator, Kennedy Leneuyia, at the DCEFF
It was a fitting start for the documentary, produced by Maramedia’s label – Maradocs – that tells the extraordinary story of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton – a pioneering conservationist and founder of Save the Elephants (STE) – whose life mission has been to protect Africa’s largest land mammal.
From D.C., our team hit the road in true adventure style, cruising down the Californian coast in their trusty minivan, meeting passionate supporters and elephant lovers, and sharing Iain’s remarkable conservation journey with sold-out audiences across the state.
The team on the road during the California leg of the film tour © Sarah Kunkel/Save the Elephants
Our next stop after Washington was Sonoma County with an intimate screening in Healdsburg, warmly hosted by Margaret McCarthy and Rebecca Birdsall. The evening featured a dynamic and energised panel discussion with film director Nigel Pope, our CEO Frank Pope, Director of Field Operations David Daballen, Director of our Elephant Crisis Fund, Chris Thouless, and conservationist Saba Douglas-Hamilton. Together, they shared fascinating stories about elephant society, Iain’s legacy, and the making of the film, setting an inspiring tone for the events to follow.
The screening of A Life Among Elephants in Sonoma County, Healdsburg © Sarah Kunkel/Save the Elephants
The next stop was San Francisco. Hosted by Donald Van de Mark at the iconic Walt Disney Family Museum, this special screening brought together nearly 100 dedicated supporters. It was the perfect setting to honour a life devoted to elephant conservation.
A Life Among Elephants screening hosted by Donald Van de Mark (pictured), at the Walt Disney Family Museum © Sarah Kunkel/Save the Elephants
From there, our team headed south along California’s coastline – stopping to take in the wild beauty of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – before arriving in Santa Barbara for a spectacular night at the historical Lobero Theatre. All 600 seats were filled and the audience was treated to a moving tribute by music legend, and our host for the evening, John Kay of Steppenwolf, who recited lyrics from his song ‘Kindred Spirits’, inspired by conservation icons like Iain and Jane Goodall.
STE’s CEO Frank Pope engages the audience at the A Life Among Elephants screening at Santa Barbara’s historic Lobero Theatre © Sarah Kunkel/Save the Elephants
San Diego gave us a truly memorable finale, thanks to the wonderful hospitality of Juliea Scardina and her magnificent team of volunteers from Mission Wildlife. The evening opened with a special presentation about rescue animals with African origins. Frank and Saba then took the stage to share an engaging and inspiring look at STE’s work, followed by a heartfelt Samburu blessing from David Daballen that deeply moved the audience.
Left to right: STE’s Director of Field Operations, David Daballen, Conservationist, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, and STE’s CEO, Frank Pope, during the San Diego screening © Mission Wildlife
One memorable moments came from artist Stephen Fishwick, who delivered a breathtaking live performance – painting an elephant portrait upside down in just minutes, revealing the striking masterpiece with a dramatic final flip that brought the crowd to their feet.
Artist, Stephen Fishwick, with his elephant portrait © Mission Wildlife
After a jam-packed 2 weeks and countless unforgettable moments, the California chapter of the A Life Among Elephants U.S. tour came to a close. We are deeply grateful to everyone who came out, hosted, shared, and supported the film. Your presence reminded us of Iain’s legacy and why our mission to secure a future for elephants matters now more than ever.
We’ll be back later this year for the next leg of our American adventure. In the meantime, our U.K. audiences can stream A Life Among Elephants now on Channel 4’s online platform.