Blackfish launches at Sundance London

Last night saw the first Sundance London screening of Blackfish. The evening also marked the film’s European premiere, and was a chance for UK audiences to preview Blackfish before it’s released in cinemas here this summer.

Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and producer Manny Oteyza were in town for the festival. Gabriela introduced the film and took part in a post-screening Q&A moderated by Sundance programmer David Courier. During the Q&A, Gabriella revealed that the trainers who were fresh out of SeaWorld were the most nervous about appearing in the film.  Talking about the potential the film has to make a difference, Gabriela explained that the next step is really in the hands of the public: "If we decide to stop going through the turnstiles, that’s when Seaworld changes."

The response from the audience was fantastic: many began their questions by congratulating the filmmakers on "a very powerful, moving film.." On the film appraisal forms filled out after the screening, almost all respondents awarded the film 5 out of 5, apart from someone who gave it a 10 out of 5! See some of the great tweets below, and head to Facebook for photos from the event

The UK release is set for 26th July. For more information on the film, visit blackfishmovie.com, and follow the film on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow @BlackfishMovie

See some more responses below from Twitter:

Huge queue for @blackfishmovie for first sell-out screening @sundancefestuk - good to see! twitter.com/olidogwoof/sta…

— Oli Harbottle (@olidogwoof) April 25, 2013

Here's a picture of tonight's post-screening Q&A with Gabriela Cowperthwaite and David Courier twitter.com/blackfishmovie…

— Blackfish (@blackfishmovie) April 25, 2013

Blackfish, extremely powerful doc @dogwoof #SundanceLondon

— Neil Rebak (@nrebak) April 25, 2013

You will not see a more powerful, important or emotional documentary film than @blackfishmovie this year. Such an achievement.

— Ben Weatherill (@BenWeatherill) April 25, 2013

At the @sundancefestuk @blackfishmovie #blackfish q&a twitter.com/noitsamit/stat…

— Aldog (@noitsamit) April 25, 2013

#blackfish fever has taken over the whole of @sundancefestuk! Here the lovely Gabriela with the poster! twitter.com/blackfishmovie…

— Blackfish (@blackfishmovie) April 25, 2013