The Messenger (Blu-ray)
For thousands of years, songbirds were regarded by mankind as messengers from the gods. Today, these creatures have woven inextricably into the fabric of our environment and are vanishing at an alarming rate. Under threat from climate change, pesticides and more, populations of hundreds of species have dipped dramatically. As scientists, activists and bird enthusiasts investigate this phenomenon, amazing secrets of the bird world come to light for the first time in the acclaimed and visually thrilling documentary The Messenger. Find out what's killing our songbirds, and what can be done about it. As in ancient times, songbirds may once again be carrying a message to humans - one that we ignore at our own peril.
5.1 Surround Sound, Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, A Coffee Primer For Birds and People, Deleted Scene, Informational Booklet, Interview with director Su Rynard, Optional Spanish subtitles, Trailer
- Su Rynard - Director
Reviews
"The arguments are persuasive, the message from the birds powerful, and the film a rich and satisfying call to action that is presented with some novel ideas for how to restore the ecological balance." - The New York Times Critics' Pick
"According to Su Rynard's provocative and beautiful documentary The Messenger, today's songbirds are delivering us a message of global proportion: Modernity is killing them, and if we don't do something soon, it might destroy us, too." - LA Weekly
"Traveling the world to spotlight challenges and solutions, filmmaker Su Rynard never loses sight of the [songbirds'] sheer beauty, or their emotional and symbolic pull as perceived intermediaries between the earthly and spiritual." - The Hollywood Reporter
Awards
BEST CONSERVATION PROGRAM - Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
Top Ten Audience Award - Hot Docs
Special Jury Award - Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature Environmental Film Festival
Special Mention for Best Documentary - CinemAmbiente
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
Winner: Best Theatrical Feature - International Wildlife Film Festival Missoula, Montana
Nominated for Best Cinematography in a Feature Documentary - Canadian Screen Awards
Nominated for Best Editing in Feature Documentary - Canadian Cinema Editors Award
For press and publicity inquiries, please email press@kinolorber.com. A selection of press materials for this title may be available for download here.