Animal Rights Documentary, ‘Tyke Elephant Outlaw’ Acquired by Netflix

Streaming giant Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to “Tyke Elephant Outlaw,” an Australian-made documentary about an escaped circus elephant.

The film focuses on an animal which in 1994 broke away from captivity in Honolulu and killed its trainer. In doing so, it sparked a debate about the use of animals as entertainment, which recently resulted in a change in the law in Hawaii.

The film last week had three performances at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
“Tyke” was directed and produced by leading Australian documentary filmmakers Susan Lambert and Stefan Moore, and co-produced by Megan McMurchy. It was produced with financial assistance from Screen Australia, Screen NSW and Voiceless. It is distributed by ABC Commercial and documentary specialist Dogwoof.

“Like the classic animal rebellion film ‘King Kong,’ Tyke is the central protagonist in a tragic but redemptive drama that combines trauma, outrage, insight and compassion,” said Lambert.

The film has been broadcast on the BBC Storyville strand, CBCs The Passionate Eye in Canada and will be screened by DRTV in Denmark.

Netflix will give it a U.S. airing in December and screen it in Australia from August next year.

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