We are all familiar with the family-friendly vacation destination SeaWorld and its happy killer whale Shamu, but how much of its popularity is just passive consumerism? In the fact-driven documentary Blackfish, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite explores the unsettling reality of killer whales in captivity and the well-concealed dangers their trainers actually face. Blackfish hones in on Tilikum—a performing whale who killed several trainers while in captivity at SeaWorld—and challenges the audience to reconsider Shamu’s happy image, what is truly understood of these fellow mammals and humanity’s overall relationship with nature. The event, which is co-presented by EcoFocus Film Festival and UGA Speak Out for Species, includes a pre-screening reception with vegan snacks and a post-screening Q&A session with behavioral biologist Dr. Lori Marino, who is featured in the film. The Blackfish screening begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free with a valid student ID or $9.75.
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