Hundreds of animals were killed, including three zoo workers who remained behind to feed their charges. The attack sparked a desperate attempt to evacuate surviving animals, a dramatic story told in the documentary Checkpoint Zoo . Appian Way Productions—the company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio —is teaming up with Osmosis Global and Aboramorama for a late-summer North American theatrical release for the Joshua Zeman -directed film .
We have your first look at the film in the exclusive trailer above.
“In the early days of the Ukraine-Russia war, Feldman Ecopark, a beloved animal refuge in Ukraine’s second-largest city, was caught in the crossfire,” notes a film description from the Tribeca Film Festival, which hosted the world premiere of Checkpoint Zoo last year. “With the invading Russian army on one side and the Ukrainian frontline on the other, thousands of animals were trapped with little food and water. Against all odds, a courageous team of zookeepers and volunteers risked their lives to embark on a seemingly impossible mission: to bring these innocent creatures to safety.”
Set against the unique backdrop of the Ukraine War , Checkpoint Zoo offers a fresh perspective on the unintended victims of human conflict. Through the eyes of these trapped animals, the film examines the heartbreaking consequences of war while celebrating the extraordinary bravery and compassion of those who fought to save them.
Abramorama
In a statement, Zeman highlighted the inspiring dimensions of the story.
“As a filmmaker, it’s so rare to find a story so uplifting—so hopeful—that it brings tears to your eyes,” he said. “That’s the power of animal stories. Watching these men and women dodge bombs while carrying a lion to safety—it restores your faith in humanity. I think audiences are craving these kinds of stories right now—stories about real-life heroes who embody empathy, compassion, and selflessness.”
The theatrical release for Checkpoint Zoo will begin in New York City. Director-curated screenings and special missions are planned nationwide. The film has won numerous honors, including Best Documentary at the Miami Film Festival, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, and the Annapolis Film Festival, and the Zelda Penzel Voiceless Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival. At the Palm Springs International Film Festival, it won the Desert Views Award and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature. It also won Audience Awards at the Tribeca Festival, the Mill Valley Film Festival, and the Salem Film Fest.
Abramorama
Abramamama presents a ghost robot in association with NOAH Media Group Limited and Appian Way Production from Joshua Zeman’s Checkpoint Zoo. The executive producers are Barry Smith, Catherine Quantschnigg, Gabriel Clarke, John McKenna, Bonamy Grimes, Jennifer Davisson, Phillip Watson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Shawn Singh. The producers are Ian Davies, Torquil Jones, Zachary Mortensen, and Joshua Zeman.
Cinematography by Nelson Hume and Olivier Sarbil. Cy Christiansen, Andrew Ford BFE, Kelly Kendrick, and Daniel Lonsbury edited the film. The original score was composed by Anne Nikitin.
Watch the trailer for Checkpoint Zoo above.
