Documentary We Are Animals to Premiere in Los Angeles
The film explores animal intelligence and exploitation ahead of its October 25, 2026 screening at the La Femme Film Festival.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Wildlife
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The documentary We Are Animals is set to premiere at the La Femme Film Festival on October 25, 2026. Directed by Kirk Murray and Nicholas Tana, the film examines animal intelligence and critiques systematic animal exploitation.
Why it matters
The filmmakers intend to educate audiences on the cognitive abilities of animals to challenge current societal norms regarding their treatment. By highlighting these similarities, the project seeks to shift perspectives on how humans interact with the animal kingdom.
A 2009 study found that seven of eight pigs could locate a food bowl using only mirror reflections. The test subjects spent five hours interacting with the mirrors during the observation period.
The players
Nina Jackel
She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Lady Freethinker, which she established in 2013.
Kirk Murray
He is a director of the documentary film We Are Animals.
Nicholas Tana
He is a director of the documentary film We Are Animals.
Nikki Glaser
She is a comedian and performer featured in the documentary.
The details
The documentary features appearances by Nikki Glaser, Moby, and Mya alongside interviews with various scientists and activists. It uses scientific evidence and expert perspectives to illustrate the parallels between human and animal experiences, including observations of orangutans fashioning umbrellas in Borneo.
Timeline
2009: Researchers conducted a study testing pig intelligence using mirrors.
2013: Nina Jackel established the nonprofit organization Lady Freethinker.
October 25, 2026: The film premieres and Nina Jackel participates in a Q&A session.
Culture Shift
The film aligns with a broader societal move toward recognizing animal sentience, mirroring the focus on cognitive studies like the 2009 pig mirror-test study. This marks a departure from traditional human-centric documentaries by emphasizing the shared intelligence between species.
Residents attending the festival can gain insight into animal cognitive research and the mission of nonprofit organizations like Lady Freethinker. This may influence personal consumer choices or support for animal welfare initiatives in the area.
The takeaway
The documentary encourages viewers to re-evaluate their relationship with animals based on scientific observations of cognition. Audiences are prompted to consider the ethical implications of animal exploitation in their daily lives.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to protect fauna in our Wildlife section.
More information
Purchase tickets for the upcoming screening through the La Femme Film Festival ticket purchase portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by VegNews Magazine.
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