Dogwoof, a documentary sales, distribution, and production company, has acquired the world sales rights to the film 'Sentient', directed by Tony Jones. The film will make its debut at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition. 'Sentient' takes viewers on a revealing journey into the secretive world of high-security laboratories, where researchers conduct experiments on animals while grappling with the profound psychological impact of their work. The film provides unprecedented access to one of the largest animal laboratories in the U.S., the University of Washington in Seattle, shedding light on the scale of animal testing and the human cost behind it. The story of Dr. Lisa Jones Engel, a decorated primatologist who realized the profound harm of her life's work, is at the heart of the film. Dogwoof's Chief Content Officer, Oli Harbottle, expressed excitement about the film's potential to create fundamental change in attitudes towards animals. 'Sentient' is a nuanced exploration of the controversial issue of animal testing, a debate that is back in the spotlight worldwide. The film is produced by In Films and funded by Screen Australia, Growing Kindness, and Mind the Gap Finance. It is directed by Tony Jones, a respected journalist and former host of ABC programs Lateline and Q&A. The executive producer is Sarah Ferguson, with Rachel Grierson-Johns serving as editor and Orly Danon providing additional editing. Nigel Christensen handled the sound design, Helena Czajka composed the music, and Andy Taylor, Aaron Smith, and Vanessa Carr contributed to the cinematography. The graphics were designed by Kingdom of Ludd. This film promises to challenge preconceived notions, open minds, and contribute significantly to the discourse on a complex and crucially important issue. But here's where it gets controversial... What cost is too high for scientific progress? Will the audience be ready to confront these difficult questions? We invite you to share your thoughts and engage in a discussion in the comments section.
