Luc Besson Will Distribute The Cove Movie in France

MEDIA ALERT ** MEDIA ALERT ** MEDIA ALERT


May 22, 2009

For Immediate Release
Luc Besson Will Distribute The Cove Movie in France

SAVE JAPAN DOLPHINS COALITION
Earth Island Institute * Animal Welfare Institute *
In Defense of Animals * Ocean Care of Switzerland *
Campaign Whale of the UK * Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan

Contacts:
Richard O’Barry, Director
Save Japan Dolphins Coalition
(786) 973-8618
ricobarry@bellsouth.net

David Phillips, Director
Earth Island Institute
(415) 788-3666 x145
davep@earthisland.org

Mark J. Palmer
Earth Island Institute
(415) 788-3666 x139
(530) 758-6022
mpalmer@cal.net

Award-winning Documentary Will Open In July in the US

Japan’s Annual Dolphin Slaughter to Begin September 1st

French Producer/Director Luc Besson, one of Europe’s most honored filmmakers, has agreed to distribute The Cove movie in France.

The Cove, which has won honors at many film festivals, including the Audience Award at January’s Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the efforts of Richard O’Barry and the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition to stop the brutal annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins in Japan. The Cove also won the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The Cove is being released in the US in July by Roadside Attractions, a subsidiary of Lionsgate. Internationally, The Works, based in London, is handling distribution, recently screening The Cove in Cannes. As a result of the two screening in Cannes, The Cove was picked up for distribution in Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Luxembourg, Italy, New Zealand, Taiwan, Switzerland, Holland and Scandinavia.

“The dolphin slaughter is scheduled to begin again on September 1st,” notes Richard O’Barry, Director of Save Japan Dolphins. “The world-wide exposure of the dolphin slaughter through The Cove movie is going to put a spot-light on this secret environmental disaster. It can’t happen too soon.”

The Cove was directed by Louie Psihoyos and the Ocean Preservation Society.

“We believe The Cove will be a game-changer,” stated David Phillips, Director of Earth Island Institute’s International Marine Mammal Project, a members of the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. “Japan’s flaunting of international agreements and international norms must end — the killing of dolphins and whales is no longer accepted by civilized society.”

The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition consists of Earth Island Institute, Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, Ocean Care, In Defense of Animals, Campaign Whale, and the Animal Welfare Institute.

For further information on the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition, go to:

http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

Read the Sundance Blog:

http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org/blog.html

For further information on “The Cove,” go to:

http://www.thecovemovie.com






Mark J. Palmer
Associate Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Director, Wildlife Alive
Earth Island Institute
***************************
NOTE MY NEW CONTACT INFORMATION AFTER APRIL 15, 2009:
David Brower Center
2150 Allston Way, Suite 460
Berkeley, CA 94704
Mark P’s direct line: 510-859-9139
(530) 758-6022 (Davis Office)
IMMP fax: 510-859-9093


http://www.earthisland.org/immp
http://www.DolphinSafe.org
http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

Read my Blog on the Sundance Film Festival and the world premiere of "The Cove", a documentary about our work to save dolphins:

http://www.savejapandolphins.org/blog.html