The Tiger Next Door Directed
by
Camilla Calamandrei
USA / 2009 / 86minutes East Coast Premiere
Screening
Times and Venues:
Rosendale Theater
10/02/2009, 4:30PM
$8
Woodstock Community Center
10/03/2009, 9:15PM
$8
SYNOPSIS:
For twenty years, Dennis Hill has fed his obsession for tigers by breeding and selling them to other “collectors” in a largely hidden and unregulated market for captive bred wild animals. Recently, however, Hill, a former biker and meth addict, had become overwhelmed by the day to day responsibilities of caring for his brood of twenty four tigers, six leopards, three bears and a cougar. The U.S.D.A. pulled his federal license and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources ordered him to downsize within thirty days. The countdown has begun. Is Hill a devoted animal lover or self-deluded animal hoarder? Ironically, he says, “It’s about freedom” while committing these magnificent creatures to a life of unnatural confinement. Shockingly, Hill’s story is not unique. Experts estimate that there are now more tigers in private captivity in the USA than there are roaming wild in the world. Disturbing questions arise as this riveting film explores the shocking underbelly of wild animal exploitation. Investigative filmmaking at its best. (Barbara Pokras, A.C.E.)
BIO:
Award winning documentary filmmaker and interactive producer Camilla Calamandrei began her journey into the world of American captive bred tigers in 2003--when a long time tiger owner in the New York area was forced to surrender twenty four tigers, found to be living in unsafe, inhumane conditions. Following those tigers to their new home in Texas led the filmmaker to a myriad of other captive bred tiger stories around the country.
Camilla has previously produced and directed two other independent documentaries about uniquely American stories that were broadcast on PBS and abroad. The historical documentary Prisoners in Paradise was voted Best of Festival at the Rhode Island Film Festival in 2001, and the short subject documentary about Ballroom dancing At Arm's Length premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1990. In addition to making documentary films, Camilla has worked as live action director/producer for The Jim Henson Company, and as a producer of interactive media for Scholastic and LEGO.
MAIN CREDITS:
Producer(s): Camilla Calamandrei
Director(s): Camilla Calamandrei
Cinematographer(s): Tamara Goldsworthy, Dana Kupper
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