ADI’S ‘Toto goes home’ picked for first UK artivist film festival

Animal Defenders International’s 32 minute film about their rescue of a chimpanzee from his desperate plight in a South American circus is one of 9 award winning films out of 60 to be screened in the first Artivist Film Festival in London.

Toto Goes Home, a poignant documentary filmed by London-based Animal Defenders International (ADI), has been chosen to be premiered at the U.K. Artivist Film Festival at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, 8th December at the Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Road, Whitechapel, London E1 4UJ.

“Toto Goes Home,” directed by Tim Phillips, follows Toto the chimpanzee’s incredible adventure as he returns home to Africa. Snatched from the forest as a baby chimpanzee, Toto was sold to a circus and toured South America, chained by the neck and living in a packing crate, for more than 20 years. After being rescued and returned to Africa by ADI, Toto's loneliness and isolation end when - for the first time in over two decades - he is embraced by his fellow chimpanzees.

The Genesis Cinema is located on the Mile End Road between Stepney Green and Whitechapel Tube stations. Tickets are £6.50 per person and can be purchased in advance on the internet at: www.GenesisCinema.co.uk/comingsoon.php or by calling: 08700 60 60 61 or 020 7780 2000.

The Artivist Film Festival from Los Angeles pays tribute to filmmakers from around the world (as activist/artists) showcasing documentary films from 25 countries recognizing their work in Social Consciousness, Human Rights, Environmental Preservation, Animal Welfare and Child Advocacy. Stars such as Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, Viggo Mortensen, Elton John, Morgan Spurlock, Brett Ratner, Andy Garcia, and Joaquin Phoenix have been involved in films shown in the Festival. This year marks the first time the Festival has run in London.

For more information on “Toto Goes Home” and Animal Defenders International, please visit www.ad-international.org or call 020 7630 3340.

For more information about the Artivist Film Festival in LA, please visit www.artivists.org. To contact Artivist in London, email london@artivists.org.

For further information, please contact:

Allison Tuffrey Jones, ADI Press Office,

Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP

Tel: 020 7630 9159?

Mob: 07785 552548

Email: pr@ad-international.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

ADI

With offices in London and San Francisco, Animal Defenders International (ADI) campaigns to protect animals in entertainment and experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI involves itself in international animal rescues as well as educational work on animals, conservation and environment. Our evidence of the torment to animals has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.