Musician and animal rights activist Moby will open the 29th Slamdance Film Festival with his feature directorial debut Punk Rock Vegan Movie on January 20 2023 and has vowed to give the film away for free after the premiere.
The festival, which runs in Park City and Salt Lake City from January 20-26 and online on the Slamdance Channel from January 23-29, has also announced a partnership with the University of Utah dedicated to the first in-person showcase of the Unstoppable Program, a free showcase of “raw and innovative filmmaking”.
Punk Rock Vegan Movie explores the ongoing relationship between the worlds of punk rock and animal rights and how the music became a breeding ground for vegan activism. It features interviews with Dave Navarro, Ray Cappo, Steve Ignorant, and Captain Sensible, among others.
Moby said, “Punk Rock Vegan Movie was created to shine a light on the surprising and inspiring history of punk rock and animal rights, but also to remind people of the importance and desperate urgency of adopting the uncompromising ethics and actions of the original punk rock activist,” said Moby. “After it makes its world premiere at Slamdance, it’s yours. It’s my goal to give the movie away, as I can’t in good conscience try to profit from what is essentially a labor of love and activism.”
“2023 represents a new era for the festival, one that integrates online and in-person events to create a more inclusive festival experience,” said Lily Yasuda, festival manager, and Michael Morin, festival producer. “With our in person showcase of Unstoppable for creators with visible and non-visible disabilities and the great support of the University of Utah, we felt it was essential to create a free event for the public and make Slamdance as accessible as possible.”
“Unstoppable is excited and grateful for this collaboration with The University of Utah because it allows for a safe space for disabled filmmakers, and an opportunity to bridge the gap between accessibility and film. This is a beautiful first step to creating real change in how films are made and consumed, and we are proud to be a part of it,” stated Unstoppable programmer and co-founder Juliet Romeo.
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