Hot Trailer: ‘The Great Gatsby’ 
How Did Women Pilot Writers Fare For 2012? 
Disney Quits Snow White Film ‘Order Of The … 
Cannes Planning Surprise Screening Of Non-Fest Films; … 
ReelzChannel Acquires U.S. Rights To ‘Pillars’ … 
Investors Unfriend Facebook As SEC Investigates IPO … 
Cash Windfalls For WME Agents, Assistants 
A&E IndieFilms Sets ‘Happy Valley,’ … 
Hot Cannes Property: Natalie Portman, Lynne Ramsay Team On … 
Brad Pitt Hits Cannes With ‘Killing Them … 
CNN Hits 20-Year Weekday Primetime Low 
Longtime TV Exec Rod Perth Named NATPE President & CEO 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘House’ Ends Run On High-Ish … 
Does Cable News Clarify Or Confuse The Public’s … 
Mark Burnett’s Company Launches Scripted Unit, Taps … 
‘Mary Mother Of Christ’ In Lionsgate Deal 
Icon UK Group Joins ‘The Butler’; Forest … 
HBO Developing Comedy Series Starring Catherine Keener And … 
Legendary’s Thomas Tull Among Just 3 Contenders … 
Harvey Weinstein Unveils ‘The Master’, … 
Cable Execs Warn That Dish Network’s Ad-Zapping DVR … 
DHD has just received this note from Fisher Stevens:
I have been involved with many films over the years as an actor, director and producer. But working on The Cove has been one of my proudest moments in 28 years of being in the business. Getting the opportunity to make an exciting film, and one that can actually make a difference, is why I got into filmaking in the first place.
That is why I was so disappointed that our film, after winning awards in the last 13 film festivals it had entered, was rejected by the Tokyo Film Festival, whose theme this year is green. Not that it is that much of a shocker, but the main goal for making the film was to shut down the cove in Taijii, Japan, where 2,300 dolphins are killed every year. Most of the Japanese population has no idea that this is going on. What better way to let them know than to premiere it on the green carpet of this years festival.
We have sold the film in over 20 countries and sadly have yet to find any distributor who will go near the film in Japan.
We will continue to do our best to get the film out in Japan but it is a shame that, after being accepted in festivals all over the world, that we couldn’t get into this one.
Sincerely,
Fisher Stevens
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Tired of animal rights people –
This isn’t just an animal rights issue. Dolphin meat is highly toxic/has mercury levels that aren’t safe for human consumption. Yet it’s being sold into the markets there and was even being given away in school lunch programs. The Japanese people have a RIGHT to know this is happening.
re: the livelihood of the fisherman, Taiji is a beautiful city. The local fisherman that do this could potentially replace their income with whale and dolphin watching programs, which have proven very lucrative in other parts of the world.
To “Just wondering”. You are right that TIFF is a FIAPF-accredited festival, but the requirement you’re talking about only applies to the competition program. The film could screen in the natural TIFF section without problem.
Internet… are they banned from certain things on the internet?
Show it on the internet.
Hand out copies to people on the street.
Hi Fisher
One correction to your story, it’s actually according to the movie 23,000 dolphins not 2,300. Either way it needs to be stopped and it’s getting incredibly close to the killing season commencing in September. Let me know if any protests are being planned.
Regards, Rosie
it is immoral to kill these animals for food and make a living off it. the whales and dolphins are not edible as they are PROVEN to be toxic. they are victims are stupid, insensitive and greedy people. and really who care if the japanese fishermen lose their jobs over this. they should not be doing it anyway. they are eco-terrorists.
Hey there “Tired of Animal Rights People.” Did it ever occur to your pea-brain that humans ARE animals? And you just proved why we shouldn’t be elevated above the rest.
It should be added and noted, along with what has been said here, that whaling is also not a sustainable industry. Besides my outrage at the cruelty and inherent dangers to consumers, cetaceans take from 6-25 years to reach sexual maturity and even then only having 1 calf per adult female. Hunting these animals is not only wrong morally and ethically, but also economically. Especially under the guise of “research” or supplemental industry. As a marine biologist, I know fecundity rates and cetaceans do not have the ability to rebound under such pressures. As for just “moving on” – sorry this revolution is going to keep coming around until it’s heard.
I saw dozens of porpoise skulls on a dock south of Tokyo, and the
last time I was in Tokyo itself you could buy whale meat in the 7-11 for 700 yen per individual portion.
I had a mega big gulp instead, and then I went on a tirade when I got pulled over on a coastal highway.
Go Greenpeace.
That totally proves and makes even more obvious how much they have to hide… there’s still Internet when I think they could didn’t block the news about the Cove…specially this one… it would be a really good protest contact a right animals org. with some respect in Japan to make a pacify protest on the opening of this festival. But im not sure how are the law in Japan maybe thats like a big big crime: speak up.
Well the distributors are just such scared… i mean thats pretty obvious something big controls that! The only way to make that more outspoken is writing to newspapers there and make the rest of the world talk aloud about the Cove. I think this globally world can also bring up some facilities to spread the information that otherwise would be blocked out…
(Next documentary i would suggest one name… HLS… it would be interesting to know how a company finned more than 500 in 5 years keeps working… and how people who talked first about it are in federal prisons, not for doing any act but free speech… u don’t need to go to Japan to find some incredible things in our century in our supposed free countries).
Show it on the streets as O’Barry did in the film, give free copies to people! There are Japanese people everywhere as tourists or immigrants, go to them and they will share with their relatives.
Nowadays, with the exposure this movie has got, there is no way the Japanese government will stop us! We will succeed!!!
@ butseriously: no i’m going to say humans are humans not animals.
all i’m saying is that these fisherman should have the right to make a living off of the dolphins without being demonized by this movie and animal rights activist who seem to value an animals well-being more than a humans.
To the people bringing up that dolphin meat is toxic and has high levels of mercury as long as the people eating dolphin meat no that its dolphin meat it’s their prerogative.
butseriously,
I totally agree with you!
I did not sleep through the night after seeing the film, and have been thinking about it most of today.
The film stated 23,000 dolphins not 2,300 are killed each year and at that rate it won’t be long before there are no dolphins left. I know the WWF is busy but I do want to know why they are not making a public protest about this slaughter, and the inhumaneness of the capture of dolphins.
I have two Japanese friends who live in Nara and I will be writing to them about this situation. One of them may have friends in high places and my hope is that she will be able to be heard about the dire need to stop this.
I have over the years sent her cards with Green Peace address labels but this time I feel compelled to openly ask her to do what she can to get the word out about this atrocity. I know Japan does not have the resources that we Americans are so accustomed to, and this is similar to the tigers and lions being poisoned in Africa. We do need to look at how animals are treated on production farms/warehouses in the U.S.
Out of curiousity, why does everyone decide to go after the Japanese, (This is relating specifically to Whaling) with significantly more gusto than going after Norway. If we look on a per capita basis, the Norweigans hunt significantly more than Japan. Generally, numbers are about the same though.
Shouldnt related media be going after Norway equally? Because as it stands now, being entirely focused on the Japanese, it looks like they’re trying to evoke the ‘Yellow Peril’, and frankly, that doesn’t fly with me. On that note, while I don’t put animal rights activists under one banner, there are the more irrational people calling for let’s say “extreme violence(such as the use of nuclear weapons)” against the Japanese. If anyone you know ever mentions things like that, could you please correct or condemn them?
Tired of Animal Rights:
What part of “illegal” and “protected” did you not understand?!
Usually when someone is doing something illegally, even if only to make a living for their family, does not mean it suddenly becomes ok.
“OH, but you want to sell crack to support your family?! Well, why didn’t you just say so, go ahead…..as long as you’re doing it to support your family.”
Its umbelievable how some people think that kiling a dolphin its a job!if you work with that you don’t have any rights!you are a murder and murders should be at the jail!
Way down on the response list to be taken seriously, but most of these posts are irrelevant. Read the story. The problem is that Tokyo Film Festival tags itself as GREEN (for the second year in a row. If the producers are that outraged, why didn’t they try and premiere the film there instead of touchy-feely Sundance?). The Japanese’s government’s stance is clear, regardless of whether you agree with it or not. Submitting The Cove to the Tokyo Film Festival is a stunt – a clever stunt but a stunt nevertheless, targeted to catch the festival on its eco-branding which is as phony as most worldwide corporate attempts to cash in on the ‘green’ dollar. Has the film been submitted to any Norwegian festivals? Has anyone ever heard of any Norwegian film Festivals? If the film was accepted by Tokyo, part 2 of the stunt is to withdraw the film in protest due to Japan’s dolphin (not whaling – watch the film) policy. The producers will never freely release the film. This is being done for domestic profit and PR, just as the dolphin industry is done for profit (been to a water theme park lately?). The true crime against the Japanese people as detailed in the film, is that the toxic dolphin meat is being deceptively sold as whale meat. (Vegans avert your eyes). It’s like finding out that your Big mac (or filet mignon) is actually a poisoned race horse! The rest is cultural difference – whale numbers are actually quite healthy these days – unless you believe free speech is only for those who agree with you.
The only way the Japanese will get it is to BOYCOTT JAPAN at all costs. Hit it where it hurts. This society needs to stop its killing machines. Dolphins, Whales – turn in your Priuses.
@ Sick — you’re an ignorant fool. HUMANS ARE CLASSIFIED AS ANIMALS, MORON.
Because of people like is the reason the polar peaks are melting you just don`t give a damn poor you
It is actually 23 000 dolphins that are killed each year in Taiji, not 2300.
You can take action by signing this petition demanding dolphins slaughter in Taiji to stop : http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-dolphin-slaughter