Path of the Panther(2023)

PG
Rated PG for some unsettling images and language
1h 29m
- Documentary

Release Date: Feb 24, 2023 | Limited

A once-in-a-lifetime sighting triggers a deep dive into the uncharted world of the Florida Panther. It's a race against time - to reveal the unseen natural history of an icon surviving in an ancient ecosystem.

Official Website

Note: Distributed by Grizzly Creek Films

Releases

Original Release | Feb 24, 2023

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Box Office Results

Results

Opening Weekend US & Canada:
$60,521
Total US & Canada:
$140,140
Total Worldwide:
$140,140

Current Showtimes

Your Location or

(U.S. Only)

Director & Top Cast

Eric Bendick
Director

Carlton Ward Jr.

Betty Osceola

Elton Langford
Self

Lara Cusack
Self

Brian Kelly
Self

Jen Korn

Self

Lauren Smith

Self

Dave Onorato

Self

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English

Summaries

Plot Summary

Drawn in by the haunting specter of the Florida panther, Nat Geo photographer Carlton Ward and a coalition of biologists, ranchers, conservationists, and Indigenous Peoples find themselves on the front lines of an accelerating battle between forces of renewal and destruction that have pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse.In a struggle resonating across the globe, the panther's habitat has become an island. Its lush territory transformed into subdivisions. A paradise - vanishing into thin air.Perched on the edge of extinction, the panther is an emblem of our once connected world. A vision of what could be again. Or else, a harbinger of what could befall our planet, if the 'Path of the Panther' becomes a dead end.This odyssey of hope and heartbreak is the culmination of more than five years of field research, half-a-million still images, and over 800 hours of ultra high definition camera trap footage. Against all odds, wild panthers have been stunningly captured in their native ecosystem, as they've never been filmed before.These wide-ranging apex predators, one of the most elusive and endangered wild cats in the world, are also the inspiration for a visionary idea: a wildlife corridor. It's the beginning of a wild 'path' that could one day stretch into every corner of the American continent.What began as a moonshot photo and film mission is evolving into a 'Path of the Panther' movement. This groundbreaking collaboration with National Geographic Society and other partners inspired the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act - the first legislation of its kind and a blueprint for addressing habitat fragmentation and species extinction across the globe.Today, the movement continues to grow. The world stands at a crossroads - and the panther is showing the way.WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD 'BEST FEATURE' - 2022 FLORIDA FILM FESTIVALWINNER - BEST ECOSYSTEM - JACKSON WILD MEDIA AWARDSWINNER - IMPACT - WILDSCREEN PANDA AWARDSWINNER - PRODUCTION TEAM - WILDSCREEN PANDA AWARDSWINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD - ACTIVE CINEMA - MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVALWINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD 'BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY' - NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALWINNER - BEST CONSERVATION FILM - NEW YORK WILD

Storyline

Drawn in by the haunting specter of the Florida panther, National Geographic Explorer and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. and a coalition of biologists, ranchers, conservationists and Indigenous peoples find themselves on the front lines of an accelerating battle between forces of renewal and destruction that have pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse. This odyssey of hope and heartbreak is the culmination of more than five years of field research, 500,000 still images, and over 800 hours of ultra-high definition camera trap footage. Against all odds, wild panthers have been stunningly captured in their native ecosystem, as they've never been filmed before. The film is the cornerstone of the "Path of the Panther" project, supported by the National Geographic Society and many other partners that inspired the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act - the first legislation of its kind and a blueprint for addressing habitat fragmentation and species extinction across the globe. The project continues to grow today, and the world stands at a crossroads with the Florida panther guiding the way.