Documentary Film "Mine" Tells Story of Pets and Their Owners During and After Hurrican Katrina

April 28, 2010 - PRLog -- See why MINE is the film that is capturing America’s heart. "Go ahead and get a tissue to wipe your tears. I did." writes NY Times critic, Manohla Dargis.  (An online Trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNjKQT84joI).
Playing as the lead off documentary on DocSunday at the LAHIFF on May 2, MINE is a heart-wrenching yet redemptive story about the pets of Hurricane Katrina. At its core, it's an exploration of the bond between people and animals and how that bond is intensified in the face of tremendous tragedy and loss.
This feature-length documentary is told from the perspective of original guardians, rescuers, and adoptive parents of “Katrina pets.” These individuals are all connected by two things, the tragic aftermath of Katrina and their love of animals.
MINE presents the complexity of an intensely emotional situation that has no simple answers.
A tragedy of this scale reveals the worst and brings out the best in humankind and presents an opportunity for meaningful social change. A meditation on human more than animal nature, MINE is a compelling, character-driven story that challenges us see the way we treat animals in our society as an extension of how we treat each other.

MINE was awarded the Audience Award Best Documentary - SXSW Film Festival 2009 and the Audience Award Best Film - San Francisco DocFest 2009

Directed and Produced by 
GERALYN PEZANOSKI,Co-Founder of Smush Media, her 12 years of experience in film and video production preceded this feature directorial debut.  Previous film producing credits include the narrative short, On A Tuesday (Santa Barbara & LAIFF) and Motherland (SXSW), and directing credits include the doc series Firehouse (Sony Pictures Entertainment). She lives in San Francisco with her husband Peter and their dog Nola.
 
Producer Erin Essenmacher is a writer, director and producer with over 10 years of experience in corporate, non-profit and broadcast production with a strong focus on documentary. Credits include a wide range of independent and broadcast documentary projects for PBS, The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, The History Channel and Court TV. Erin splits her time between the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City.
 
One of the stories in MINE revolves around the experiences of MALVIN CAVALIER.  When he heard a hurricane was coming, 86 year old New Orleans native, Malvin Cavalier, evacuated to the Super Dome. "I don't want to go to the dome, but I have to go - and they won't take pets," recounts an exasperated Malvin. He left his beloved companion Bandit with food and water and a promise that he'd return in a few days. Instead, Malvin was evacuated to Houston and spent the next several months wondering if he'd ever get back home to find Bandit. Finally able to return to a FEMA-issued trailer in New Orleans, Malvin searches for his dog with the help of an unlikely new friend, Sandra Bauer, a volunteer from Canada. They discover that Bandit is in Pittsburgh, but the rescue group refuses to provide any further information. While Sandra works the legal system trying to sue for Bandit's return, Malvin struggles to rebuild his life and his home.

The presentation of this award winning documentary will be held at the Warner Grand Theater on 6th Street.  The theater is located directly across from the Arcade Building, who is also a sponsor of the LA Harbor International Film Festival, LAHIFF.

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Since its inception in 2003 LAHIFF has rapidly gained momentum & support from civic and business leaders throughout Los Angeles as echoed by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. “Creativity abounds throughout the City of Los Angeles and particularly at the Port in San Pedro.” Within the programming of the LA Harbor International Film Festival of 2007 are films that reflect the historical and contemporary culture, celebrating the people and the diversity of the area, while drawing film lovers and tourists from around the country to this region. I commend the festival for contributing to the cultural and artistic landscape of Los Angeles and to the economic vitality of the City.”

The iconoclastic WGT, is one of only three original Warner Brothers theatres built in the Los Angeles area. It has had a major renovation including the “Save Your Seat” campaign spearheaded by the GVF support group for the WGT dedicated to preserving and restoring it to its original glory.