Best film winner at the International Wildlife Film Festival, Poached welcomes you to the uncanny world of the United Kingdom’s most infamous bird egg thieves. Lately, there has been a crack down on illegal wild bird egg collecting as thousands of eggs have been confiscated through “Operation Easter.” These men are not in the bird egg collecting business for the money, but are addicted to the thrill of the hunt and the beauty of the eggs. However, their obsession has devastating effects on the environment, endangering species, and distressing the birds whose young have been snatched. Ironically, these collectors claim to have a love for the very creatures they harm, and are conflicted about their thefts. Director Timothy Wheeler takes a humanistic approach, attempting to understand the psychology behind this obsession, while leaving room for the viewers to decide whether these men can be redeemed.

Birdlime

Evan DeRushie |  Canada | 2017 | Animated Short | 11 min | G | 

This playfully enchanting stop-motion tale finds a tropical songbird forced to contend with the ignominies of urban captivity.