Directors

James Hill

Country

UK / USA

Year

1966

Running Time

95 mins 

SFGFF Film Program:

Green Film Fest Screening - April 20, 2016

50th Anniversary Screening

Winner of the Green Film Fest Inspiring Lives Award

IN PERSON: Virginia McKenna, actress, Born Free; Will Travers, President, Born Free Foundation

This wildlife epic first roared onto the big screen 50 years ago as the first mainstream Hollywood film to spotlight a big conservation issue. Since then, the story of Elsa the Lioness has captured hearts around the globe, not least inspiring star Virginia McKenna’s Born Free Foundation, dedicated to protecting these majestic animals.

Set in Kenya, it follows the true story of George (Bill Travers) and Joy Adamson's (Virgina McKenna) fight to return Elsa, a lion cub, to the wild. With the re-classification of many wild lion populations as endangered in December 2015 and inclusion of lions on the schedules of the US Endangered Species Act, the film's heart-warming story is even more relevant today.  A must for all cat lovers, big and small.

Presented in a stunning new 4k digital restoration, courtesy of Sony Pictures Enterainment.

Film followed by discussion and audience Q&A with Virginia McKenna and Will Travers.

After the program, Ms. McKenna will sign copies of her autobiography The Life in My Years, as well as her most recent poetry book The Moon is Red (on the Castro Mezannine).