RESCUE Premieres at Raindance: A Documentary Spotlighting Animals in War
A new documentary highlighting animals caught in conflict will premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London on 25 and 26 June, where it’s nominated for Best Documentary Feature.
Executive produced by long-time PETA friend Sadie Frost, RESCUE focuses on animals in need during the war in Ukraine – and the people risking their lives to reach them.
Animals Trapped in Conflict
As people flee war zones, many animals are left without food, shelter, or care. RESCUE follows volunteer teams travelling into heavily damaged areas to find them, navigating dangerous situations like shelling, mined roads, and deserted towns in the process.
Working from makeshift bases with limited resources, these rescuers attempt to reach animals in urgent need. The film shows the reality of this work: moments of relief when animals are saved, alongside the difficult truth that many will never be recovered.
The film shows that compassion for animals persists even during conflict. From the rescuer offering food to a starving dog to the soldier pausing to protect a kitten amid chaos, it explores how acts of kindness can be found in even the darkest places.
Featuring PETA-Funded Rescue Work
The film includes the work of the PETA-supported team Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK), who have rescued tens of thousands of animals in Ukraine since the war began. At a veterinary clinic funded in part by PETA, which features in the documentary, ARK provides life-saving care to injured and traumatised animals after they have been brought to safety.
Why RESCUE matters
Animals are often the least visible victims of war. They cannot escape bombardments or seek help on their own, yet they experience the same fear, hunger, and injury as humans. RESCUE brings their experiences into focus, showing that their lives matter and that helping them is possible thanks to the extraordinary acts of courage of the people who refuse to look away – even when the world around them has fallen apart.
Tickets to the premiere of RESCUE are available to purchase on the Raindance Film Festival website.
Support ARK’s Work
By donating to PETA’s Global Compassion Fund, you will help support animal rescue efforts around the world, including ARK’s vital work saving animals in Ukraine.
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