Ecoflix Announces FREE BILLY As Its First Original Feature Documentary

Ecoflix has announced that FREE BILLY will be its first original feature documentary, exposing the serious neglect of Billy the elephant at LA Zoo.

Audiences can view the emotive film from 9 November 2021 when Ecoflix is unveiled for the first time.

Produced and directed by EMMY and BAFTA award-winning Marshall Corwin (SERIOUS ADVENTURE, TOMORROW’S WORLD, PANORAMA), who is also Creative Director for Ecoflix, this emotive documentary chronicles the decades-long campaign to free Billy: an Asian Bull elephant who has lived in the LA Zoo since he was four years old. Billy has endured brutal training, decades of isolation, and to this day remains forced to live on display with virtually no mental stimulation, in a tiny environment on hard ground, which is the leading cause of death of zoo elephants.

The Free Billy movement has seen celebrities such as actress Lily Tomlin, singer Cher, and many others campaign for his freedom, yet he remains a captive of the Los Angeles Zoo. Even legal efforts to free him have failed. This is despite clear judicial findings which list the many problems he faces that are likely to result in his premature demise. In which case, he will be the eighteenth elephant to die in the Los Angeles Zoo.

Narrated by iconic actress and UK national treasure Virginia McKenna OBE (BORN FREE, A TOWN LIKE ALICE), the film features interviews with L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz, Mammalian Brain Expert Lori Marino, world-renowned Elephant Expert Joyce Poole, and Attorney, Animal Advocate and CEO of Ecoflix David Casselman.

The title track for the film was donated to Ecoflix by 12x Oscar nominated songwriter, Diane Warren. Performed by Yolanda Adams and the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir, the song is fittingly entitled FREE. Produced by Daniel Moore and Tremain 'Six 7' Williams. Executive Produced by Mickey Shapiro, Lynne Peterson and Mick Fleetwood. Percussion, Drums and arrangement by Mick Fleetwood (FLEETWOOD MAC). Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren. Courtesy of Big Deal Records and Mickey Shapiro.

Marshall Corwin, filmmaker and Creative Director for Ecoflix said: "Learning the truth about Billy’s 32 traumatic years in isolation was very emotional and has forever changed my view of zoos. I’m sure our investigation will shock many people and encourage families to reconsider taking their children to see intelligent, majestic animals in captivity."

www.ecoflix.com