We are pleased to share that for the months of Feb. & March 2023 The Messenger documentary will be streaming on the HotDocs.ca “Hot Docs at Home” platform. You can watch the trailer here. Or go to HotDocs at home here and scroll down to the series “Around the World with Ontario Filmmakers” / The Messenger
Enjoy!
“We have won our battle against Ortolan Bunting trapping and the phenomenon is basically wiped out from Les Landes.”
THE MESSENGER took audiences into the fields of Les Landes, in south-west West France, to witness the illegal hunting of Ortolan Bunting, a practise that was decimating local populations. Now, the Ortolan Bunting will finally be off the menu in France! No other European songbird has declined as rapidly in recent years, with an overall decline of 84% since 1980 due to poaching and intensive agriculture – this, despite hunting of the species being forbidden by French law since 1999 when it became a protected species. Because the Ortolan dish is considered a cultural tradition, authorities had often turned a blind eye to the activities of poachers.
For the past 10 years, LPO (League for the Protection of the Oiseaux) the BirdLife International partner in France has been fighting this illegal practice on the ground, and also in the air, where alongside CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter), they have been identifying trapping sites and releasing the birds, before alerting the authorities. Until recently, these interventions were the only way to identify and prosecute the poachers, who operated with the blessing of local elected officials and hunting officials, and who claimed that the state “tolerated” these practices. Indeed the authorities wouldn’t file charges for installations of 30 traps or less. More on the practise and new developments in this article from Bird Life International.
Frédéric Jiguet from Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, (featured in The Messenger) partnered with other scientists from more than 12 countries across EU to conduct the study. He also worked in partnership with ONCFS (French Hunting & Wildlife National Office).
The main conclusions are that the numbers migrating by south-west France are estimated on average only 81,000 pairs (300,000 individuals including juveniles), with a recent decline estimated between -20% and -30%, while the overall trend of birds using the western flyway, or the eastern flyway, is a decline of lower amplitude estimated between -10% and -20%. The birds flying by south-west come mainly from Poland (probably 75%), the others coming mainly from Germany and Sweden, and also from Norway (where there are only astonishingly only 10 breeding pairs left) – so almost only from EU countries. The first pages of the report are a summary of overall results, then detailed parts on each techniques. (genetics, isotopes, geolocators). (see links below)
Andrea Rutigilano, an on-the ground warrior for CABS also featured in the film says, “We have won our battle against Ortolan Bunting trapping and the phenomenon is basically wiped out from Les Landes.”
Frédéric JIGUET sent us the links to this comprehensive research study about the Ortolan Bunting.
You can download the full Ortolan Bunting report in English at this link.
The report is also available in French here.
Winner: Prix Buffon, Paris Science, Le festival international du film scientifique, 2016
Winner: Special Jury Award, Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature Environmental Film Festival 2016
Special Mention for Best Documentary, CinemAmbiente, Italy 2015
Winner: Best Environmental Film Prize, Festival de l’Oiseau et de la Nature, Abbeville Cedex, France 2016
Winner: Best of Fest, International Wildlife Film Festival Missoula, Montana 2016
Winner: Best Theatrical Feature, International Wildlife Film Festival Missoula, Montana 2016
Nominated: Best Cinematography in a Feature Documentary, Canadian Screen Awards 2016
Nominated: Best Editing in Feature Documentary, Canadian Cinema Editors Award 2016
Nominated: for Dutch IntL Science Film Festival NTR Audience Award & Youth Jury Award, 2016
Winner: Whistleblower Award Cinema Verde Environmental Film & Arts Festival, 2016
Winner: Favourite Documentary Feature, North Bay Film Festival, 2016
Winner: Best Conservation Film, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, 2015
Winner: Top Ten Audience Award, Hot Docs 2015
Recipient of the 2015 Carl Nunn Media and Conservation Award presented by Ontario Nature
Now available on itunes in Canada and the USA.
Canada: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/the-messenger/id1177748023
USA. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-messenger/id1082871787
“Birds have something to tell us.”
THE MESSENGER – A film by Su Rynard
Television Premiere – documentary Channel – May 31, 2016 – 9 PM EDT
On the heels of a wildly successful North American tour, THE MESSENGER is coming to documentary Channel on May 31st 2016.
With over 100 screens and 25 cinemas in the USA and Canada respectively, THE MESSENGER is an international story with high stakes and global consequences, chronicling the struggle of songbirds as they survive the turbulent conditions brought about by humans. The award-winning film – accolades listed below – mesmerizes audiences with stunning slow-motion sequences of songbirds in night flight, providing a unique eye into the beauty of the songbirds and the messages they carry.
“The Messenger is the most scientifically sound and beautiful film about songbirds I have ever seen. Your heart will be opened to their plight, and your brain to the action you can take to help save them,” says Steven Price, President of Bird Studies Canada.
Akin to the disappearance of the honeybee or the melting of glaciers, the film argues that the global demise of songbirds signals an uncertain shift in an already fragile ecosystem. THE MESSENGER explores our deep-seated connection to birds, while warning that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror our own.
“In ancient times, humans looked to the flights and songs of birds to predict the future, now the songbirds are disappearing at an alarming rate, and this points to changes in our world. Now is a critical time for our climate and ecosystems.” Says Canadian director Su Rynard. “Today, once again, birds have something to tell us, and I wanted to amplify their message.”
The scientists, activists and bird enthusiasts featured in THE MESSENGER bring us face-to-face with the beauty of these airborne music-makers and with the remarkable variety of human-made perils that they face: the destruction of our forests, our lethal architecture, predatory pets, and the alarming use of pesticides. All of these are causing the disappearance of songbirds at a disquieting pace.
“The Messenger is a beautifully crafted film with an important & urgent message. We are really pleased to be the broadcast home for The Messenger; it feels right on doc channel.” Says Bruce Cowley, Creative Head, documentary Channel.
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Accolades for THE MESSENGER include:
The Messenger is an international treaty co-production between Canada and France, produced by SongbirdSOS Productions Inc. and Films à Cinq/ARTE.
To find out how the stunning footage of songbirds in flight was achieved, read Director Su Rynard’s blog post and view a behind-the-scenes video.
For a press kit, still photography, or to book an interview with the filmmakers or any film participants, please contact Jesse Bondar (jesse.bondar@dotdotdash.ca) (416) 312-0428 or Joanne Jackson (joanne@songbirdsos.com) (416) 801-1118.
Produced with support from the Ontario Media Development Corporation Film Fund, CBC, ARTE, Canal D and the participation of the Rogers Documentary Fund, Canada Media Fund, CNC, Telefilm International Co-production office, Rogers Telefund, Procirep, Angoa and the Documentary Organization of Canada. Special thanks to the Canadian Film Centre Documentary Program, NFB, David J. Woods Productions, Hot Docs Deal Maker, Sunnyside of the Doc. International Sales Agent: ZED American Distributor: Kino Lorber, Canadian Distribution: SongbirdSOS Productions Inc. Promotion and Marketing Assistance by Telefilm Canada.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. We are Canada’s trusted source of news, information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight aboriginal languages. We also provide international news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective.
Birds are environmental indicators and The Messenger offers the opportunity for dialogue and action on the issues raised by the film. Screenings of The Messenger are now happening all around the world, and everywhere we go people are moved by the film and inspired to take action – for birds, for our eco-system, and for human kind.
In Canada we are at a critical stage. We are ready to launch a nation wide screening tour, and need your support to make it happen. Will you help us raise the funds we need to run a successful impact campaign and spread the important message of The Messenger? Your contribution today ensures more Canadians from coast to coast can experience the film. Your support also helps to generate the tools and resources we’ll need to empower people to take action for birds.
You can make a secure charitable donation on Bird Studies Canada’s Giving Tuesday webpage. Please include ‘The Messenger” in the comment box.
If you live in the US or another country, we appreciate contributions to the International Outreach Campaign via Indiegogo crowdfunding.
We were very lucky to film this Golden-winged warbler in Central America. Golden-winged Warblers have declined sharply and now have one of the smallest populations of any bird not on the endangered species list. The North American Breeding Bird Survey estimates an overall decline of 76 percent.
