Behind the Mask (ALF)
Encyclopedia
Behind the Mask: The Story Of The People Who Risk Everything To Save Animals is a 2006 documentary film
about the Animal Liberation Front
(ALF). It took three years of filming, interviewing, and editing to complete. The movie was created by animal-rights lawyer Shannon Keith
, who owns Uncaged Films and ARME (Animal Rescue, Media & Education). The documentary was produced in response to a perceived bias in the mainstream media against the animal rights movement.
It includes well-known names within the animal rights movement, some of whom have been imprisoned for taking direct action
. The story of Jill Phipps
, who was killed when she fell under a lorry while protesting against the live export of animals, is told, with her mother saying, "They call us terrorists but the reality is that over the years four animal rights activists have been killed during protests."
The UK première was held on September 7, 2006 at the Exeter
Phoenix Arts and Media Centre. Keith Mann
gave a talk and answered questions. Mann and others have since toured the film extensively worldwide, organizing screenings in local cinemas and at animal rights events. The Calcutta The Telegraph
has said about the film: "Regardless of what one thinks about the tactics of the Animal Liberation Front, the film is an extraordinary one that is well worth watching"
The documentary was also in the Official Selection at Santa Cruz Film Festival 2007 and ReelHeART International Film Festival
2007.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about the Animal Liberation Front
Animal Liberation Front
The Animal Liberation Front is an international, underground leaderless resistance that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal liberation...
(ALF). It took three years of filming, interviewing, and editing to complete. The movie was created by animal-rights lawyer Shannon Keith
Shannon Keith
Shannon Keith is an American animal rights lawyer, activist, and documentary director/producer. She is the director of the Animal Liberation Front documentary, Behind the Mask: The Story Of The People Who Risk Everything To Save Animals.-Background:...
, who owns Uncaged Films and ARME (Animal Rescue, Media & Education). The documentary was produced in response to a perceived bias in the mainstream media against the animal rights movement.
About
The film is about animal rights activists who break into laboratories and other facilities to provide previously unseen footage of the way animals are used.It includes well-known names within the animal rights movement, some of whom have been imprisoned for taking direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
. The story of Jill Phipps
Jill Phipps
Jill Phipps was a British animal rights activist who was crushed to death in Baginton, Warwickshire, England by a lorry transporting live veal calves heading for continental Europe via Coventry Airport.-Background:...
, who was killed when she fell under a lorry while protesting against the live export of animals, is told, with her mother saying, "They call us terrorists but the reality is that over the years four animal rights activists have been killed during protests."
The UK première was held on September 7, 2006 at the Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
Phoenix Arts and Media Centre. Keith Mann
Keith Mann
Keith Mann is a British animal rights campaigner and writer, alleged by police in 2005 to be at the top of the Animal Liberation Front pyramid. He is the author of From Dusk 'til Dawn: An Insider's View of the Growth of the Animal Liberation Movement...
gave a talk and answered questions. Mann and others have since toured the film extensively worldwide, organizing screenings in local cinemas and at animal rights events. The Calcutta The Telegraph
The Telegraph (Kolkata)
The Telegraph is an Indian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and the newspaper vies with the Times of India for the position of having the widest widest circulation of any newspaper in Eastern India.According to the Audit...
has said about the film: "Regardless of what one thinks about the tactics of the Animal Liberation Front, the film is an extraordinary one that is well worth watching"
Awards
The film has been shown at film festivals, as well as other showings, and has won the following awards:- Documentary of the Year, VegNewsVegNewsVegNews is a magazine that publishes content about and relating to vegetarianism, including news, health information, recipes, global events, veg products, media, and more. It was founded in 2000 as a newspaper, and transitioned to full-color glossy in 2004. The bi-monthly publication now has more...
, 2006 - Best Documentary Feature, Other Venice Film Festival 2007
- Best Documentary Feature, Independent Features Film Festival 2007
- Best Documentary Feature, Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival 2007
The documentary was also in the Official Selection at Santa Cruz Film Festival 2007 and ReelHeART International Film Festival
ReelHeArt International Film Festival
The ' known as The Filmmakers Film Festival is an annual independent film festival that screens over 100 films from 30 or more countries during six days around the 3rd week of June in Toronto, Canada....
2007.
See also
- Animal LiberationAnimal LiberationAnimal liberation may refer to:*Animal rights, animals being considered as legal persons**Animal-liberation movement**Abolitionism , an abolitionist approach to animal rights**Veganarchism, a combined theory of animal liberation and anarchism...
- Animal Liberation FrontAnimal Liberation FrontThe Animal Liberation Front is an international, underground leaderless resistance that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal liberation...
(ALF) - Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group (ALFSG)
- Animal Liberation Press OfficeAnimal Liberation Press OfficeAnimal Liberation Press Offices relay anonymous communiques, photos and videos to the media about direct action undertaken by the Animal Liberation Front , Animal Rights Militia , Animal Liberation Brigade, Justice Department, and other leaderless resistance within the animal liberation movement...
- Keith MannKeith MannKeith Mann is a British animal rights campaigner and writer, alleged by police in 2005 to be at the top of the Animal Liberation Front pyramid. He is the author of From Dusk 'til Dawn: An Insider's View of the Growth of the Animal Liberation Movement...
External links
- Behind The Mask
- Behind the Mask (Trailer), 2 minute video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, 2006. - Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
- Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group (ALFSG)
- Animal Liberation Press Office