Liberty, produced by nonprofit studio Fauna Films, follows a six-year creative journey by disabled artist Gretchen Ryan – using her art to tell a powerful story about resilience and compassion.

The film centers on Gretchen Ryan, a painter who was paralyzed in a car accident at age 16. Over the past six years, she has created a 13-foot-wide painting titled “Liberty Leading the Animals,” inspired by Eugène Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People.” Her work reimagines the figure of Liberty as a symbol of hope and strength for animals, challenging audiences to consider what freedom means for all beings.

“Liberty isn’t just a film about a painting; it’s about defying the odds, using art to amplify marginalized voices, and inspiring empathy for both humans and animals,” said James Hoot, executive director of Fauna Films and director of Liberty.

Read more: Anti-Dairy Ad To Be Screened At Cinemas In ‘UK First’

Liberty launches crowdfunder

Today (March 24), Fauna films is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise USD $8,000 to complete the film. All funds will go toward the production and post-production of Liberty, and donations will be matched by a private donor. Backers contributing $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible donation receipt through Fauna Films, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The film will conclude with the public unveiling of Gretchen’s painting at a gallery event in Los Angeles on May 16, 2025. Tickets to the event will be available to supporters of the campaign.

In addition to spotlighting Gretchen’s artistic process, Liberty will visit Farm Sanctuary to feature the real-life animals who inspired the work. Through this, the film draws connections between artistic representation and the lived experiences of rescued animals.

Supporters can view the trailer and donate here. 

Fauna Films is a nonprofit film production studio creating high-impact visual content to promote compassion, sustainability, and justice. Its work supports movements for animal rights, environmental protection, and plant-based living.

Read more: New Vegan Zombie Film Features Dr Michael Greger And Jane Velez Mitchell

This article was written by Editorial Team on the PBN Website.

Around 2,000 guests were served a three-course menu at the Southbank Centre in London after the awards ceremony. The caviar came in reusable tins featuring the Bafta mask, served with sourdough bread.

There were other plant-forward items on the menu, including pickled or parfait organic mushrooms from Sussex as the starter. The meat-free option for the main was roast crown prince squash and zero-waste root vegetable bhaji.

Read more: Anti-Dairy Ad To Be Screened At Cinemas In ‘UK First’

Bafta promotes sustainability in the film and television industry through its albert programme. Albert provides tools and guidance for the industry to reduce its environmental impact, including how to create content that promotes climate action.

More sustainable caviar

Bafta guests are not the first to have enjoyed vegan caviar. It is becoming a more common alternative, with several producers and restaurants such as Gauthier Soho offering it for sale. Plant-based chef Kirk Haworth won the fish round of Great British Menu with seaweed caviar.

Caviar made from fish eggs, known as roe, is often regarded as both cruel and unsustainable. European sturgeon are on the brink of extinction due to their eggs being harvested for caviar, as the fishes are killed to extract their eggs. There are regulations in place that are supposed to protect wild sturgeon and help their numbers recover. But genetic testing of caviar samples from Eastern Europe have revealed that half of commercial caviar has been harvested illegally.

Farmed sturgeon is often described as more sustainable, with some farms being “no-kill” producers. But this still involves handling the fishes, including making incisions to get their eggs out.

Read more: What Is Vegan Seafood, Is It Healthy, And What Brands Are Best?

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

The 62-second ad comes from animal rights charity Viva!. It opens with a human mother lovingly tucking her newborn baby into bed. As she switches off the light, a sinister ghoul-like figure appears in the dark and snatches the baby away. After the woman cries out and asks what he’s done with the baby, the ghoul replies: “You can’t keep your baby because we want your milk.” At this point, the scene shifts, showing real-life footage of dairy farms in the UK. A calf is shown looking confused and helpless after being separated from his mother, only to be killed due to being surplus to requirements in the industry. 

Viva! created the ad to raise awareness of the reality of dairy farming, where mother cows are forcibly impregnated and have their babies taken away after birth. Like humans, cows form powerful bonds with their babies, and they often bellow and cry out for days after they’re gone. 

“This advert delivers a message many people don’t want to face: the dairy industry profits from the suffering of mothers and their babies,” said Viva! founder Juliet Gellatley in a statement. “Every glass of milk or slice of cheese comes at the cost of a bond as profound as any human mother’s love for her child. The reality is dark, violent and deeply distressing – but it’s hidden in plain sight.”

Read more: Investigation Finds Dead Cows ‘Eaten To The Bone’ At Red Tractor Dairy Farm

The importance of cinema advertising

According to Viva!, cinema is one of the most “impactful storytelling platforms” due to the increased levels of emotional response shown by audiences. The charity cited a study that found that 87 percent of people remember cinema ads weeks after seeing them. 

In order to bring the advert to as many viewers as possible, Viva! is crowdfunding to raise costs. You can visit the fundraising page here. 

It has not yet been confirmed in which cinemas the ad will be shown, but Viva! told Plant Based News that it will begin airing in the spring. 

Read more: Investigation Warns Of Factory Farming’s ‘Silent Takeover’ In UK Dairy

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Food for Thought is a feature-length documentary by actor and Born Free Foundation patron Dan Richardson and director Giles Alderson. It explores the growth of the vegan movement around the world through interviews with animal
rights activists, philanthropists, athletes, plant-based food developers, podcasters, and rock stars. They include CEO of Compassion in World Farming Philip Lymbery, Beyond Meat founder Ethan Brown, and YouTuber and personal trainer Paul Kerton, AKA Hench Herbivore.

“Among our top priorities was to create something unique in the genre,” Richardson, who co-directed and co-produced Food for Thought, said in a statement. “[W]e were determined from day one that, while we hope to take the audience on
a journey on which they’ll find themselves both laughing and crying, Food For Thought would ultimately be a positive and uplifting film and one which would leave people feeling understood, included and hopeful.”

Read more: ‘I Could Never Go Vegan’ Ads Take Over London Underground

Reaching a wide audience

The film strives to appeal to meat-eaters, as well as vegans. It features honest video diaries from a group of volunteers as they embark on the first 30 days of a plant-based diet.

“Making [the film] relatable to a wide audience was paramount,” said Richardson. “And it really feels like we’ve hit the jackpot in that regard thanks to our amazing vegan participants.”

Food for Thought delves into the ethical and environmental reasons for going vegan and the impact veganism could have on the world. The film follows Richardson and Alderson as they travel around conducting interviews and visiting an animal sanctuary.

“It is an incredible journey and if we can make a few people eat less meat because of it then I will be overjoyed,” said Alderson. “It was a really emotional project to be a part of.”

The Food For Thought world premiere takes place at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Friday, January 24. It will be hosted by actor and animal activist Peter Egan. All profits from the evening will go to Animal Aid and Goodheart Animal Sanctuaries. Tickets are available from Event Brite.

Read more: Cowspiracy Is The ‘Most Effective’ Vegan Documentary, Poll Finds

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

The film follows award-winning documentary maker Thomas Pickering as he sets out to investigate some of the leading arguments against veganism, exploring whether or not they’re justified. The new ads coincide with the film’s release on streaming platforms in the UK and USA. 

The first billboard design centers on the slogan “Could You Do It?” It depicts a shocked couple at a posh restaurant, staring at a live chicken placed on their plates, while a waiter presents them with a set of knives on a silver platter. The concept challenges non-vegans by highlighting that most would be unwilling to kill an animal themselves, raising the question of whether they should pay for someone else to do it. Pickering described the ad as addressing the “huge disconnect” many people have with the reality behind the food on their plates.

The second design shows a man holding a coffee while standing in a barn with a cow. The copy on the ad reads: “Why would a human adult drink the milk made for a cow’s calf?” Pickering made this ad to tackle the idea that cow’s milk is “normal” milk for humans, when it’s in fact breast milk intended for a cow’s baby. 

Both ads are based on two video commercials directed by Pickering.

Read more: ‘Cowspiracy’ Co-Director Announces New Film: ‘How To Make Drugs’

About ‘I Could Never Go Vegan’

Pickering decided to make the documentary after noticing a pattern in the arguments put to him by non-vegans attempting to discredit his lifestyle. Topics explored include the B12 issue, whether veganism is too expensive, and the notion that farmed animals have a “good life.” 

“I Could Never Go Vegan is truly a film for anyone who has ever heard or said these words,” Pickering said. “It’s not uncommon for me to have daily conversations with friends, colleagues or strangers, and for them to utter these words to me. But why? That’s exactly what I wanted to explore in this film, seeking to find out whether the arguments that face the vegan movement are justified or not.”

The film features interviews and appearances by powerlifting champion Sophia Ellis, environmentalist George Monbiot, and health professional Dr Shireen Kassam, among others. One of the film’s executive producers, actor Alicia Silverstone, previously described the film as “the vegan documentary we’ve all been waiting for.” 

Find out how to watch I Could Never Go Vegan here.

Read more: Cowspiracy Is The ‘Most Effective’ Vegan Documentary, Poll Finds

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Animal Charity Hopes To Convert Meat Plant Into ‘Animal Empathy Museum’

The film, titled A44, is a horror thriller “about compassion” but “with zombies,” according to the filmmakers. It follows a student as he investigates the meat and dairy industry’s links to a “mysterious illness” that has turned the rest of the community into “mindless killers.”

The first official trailer for A44 premiered earlier this month on December 13.

A44 is the first non-documentary film from Chris Cooney, who wrote, produced, and directed the feature. He also stars alongside Dr Greger, Velez-Mitchell, and the rest of the small cast. Cooney launched a Kickstarter for the project in 2018, which raised over USD $85,000.

Dr Greger is an American physician, author, and advocate for plant-based whole foods as a form of preventative medicine. In 2011, he founded the website NutritionFacts.org. In A44, Dr Greger plays a college professor. Cooney has said he wrote the role specifically for him. Velez-Mitchell is the founder of UnchainedTV, a nonprofit streaming network that focuses on veganism and animal rights.

Read more: Dairy Is Worse Than Coca-Cola, Says Leading Longevity Expert

‘A44 is a tale of compassion’

Cooney is widely known by his social media handle, The Vegan Zombie (TVZ). He produces a YouTube cooking show of the same name set in the zombie apocalypse, as well as travel, lifestyle, and shopping videos with a vegan focus. Cooney published a graphic novel cookbook titled The Vegan Zombie: Cook & Survive in 2013 with illustrations and recipes.

“A44 is a tale of compassion, told through the unexpected lens of a zombie narrative,” writes Cooney. “It’s the first feature film of its kind – a pro-vegan story that isn’t a documentary. By infusing elements of comedy and not taking ourselves too seriously, we’ve created a film that invites viewers to laugh, reflect, and perhaps see the world a bit differently.”

Earlier this month, Netflix announced a new documentary about plant-based bio-hacker Bryan Johnson by Tiger King filmmaker Chris Smith. It’s titled Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever. In November, actor Bella Ramsay and Earthling Ed teamed up for Matilda and the Brave Escape, and the controversial Food For Profit came out in October.

A44 will be released in 2025.

Read more: Groundbreaking Film ‘Christspiracy’ Available To Stream Around The World Now

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Joey Carbstrong Releases New Documentary ‘Pignorant’ – How To Watch It

Matilda and the Brave Escape tells the true story of Matilda’s escape from a Nottinghamshire farm in 2021. She gave birth to ten piglets in the woods shortly after.

The film imagines Matilda’s life on the what would be a typical pig farm before she broke out. Most of the UK’s 10 million pigs are raised on farms assured by Red Tractor, where practices such as tail docking of piglets are often routine. Red Tractor farms have also been exposed a number of times for abusive and neglectful treatment of animals.

A happy ending?

In the film, the audience watches Matilda, now pregnant, as she breaks through electric fencing to freedom. While Matilda was initially taken back to the farm by the farmer, a public campaign saw her rescued by Surge Sanctuary, co-founded by Winters, where she now lives with her children.

Read more: 10 Pigs Rescued From Animal Testing Lab

While Matilda got a happy ending, the film lets viewers know that millions of pigs raised for meat will never be so lucky. Despite this sobering message, the film is ultimately “one of hope and inspiration,” said Winters.

“The story of Matilda is incredible for many reasons – from Matilda herself to the dedication and kindness of everyone who campaigned for her freedom, her story is truly remarkable,” he said in a statement. “We wanted to ensure that her bravery and courage could be seen by as many people as possible and it was important to us to create a film suitable for children, so we made Matilda and the Brave Escape in the style of an animated children’s story, as we strongly believe that Matilda has the power to inspire all ages.”

Matilda and the Brave Escape is available to watch on YouTube now. Matilda and her family can be sponsored through matildaandthebraveescape.com.

Read more: Chris Packham Calls On RSPCA To Suspend ‘Assured’ Welfare Label

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

The film comes from Kip Andersen, the maker of Cowspiracy, What the Health, and Seaspiracy. He teamed up with Kameron Waters, a lifelong Christian who posed the question “is there an ethical or a spiritual way to kill an animal?” to Andersen at a Q&A session a few years ago. The pair went on a journey to four continents to answer that question, focusing on religions including Christianity, as well as Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. According to Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, the film “exposes unforgiving truths about animal cruelty in the name of religion.”

While the film largely revolves around religion, it also explores ethics, philosophy, history, and a variety of other disciplines, meaning it has a broad appeal beyond those who are religious or interested in religion. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Christspiracy, and when it’s being released. 

How to watch Christspiracy online

Christspiracy is available to stream online around the world from today (November 1). You can watch the film now at Christspiracy.com. 

The film is available on a Pay-It-Forward basis. This means that you pay a donation (suggested USD $15) and send the film on to someone else who may not have the means to pay. This arrangement will ensure the film is seen by as many people as possible, bringing its message to the homes of viewers around the world. The makers have confirmed that 50 percent of all proceeds will go to animal sanctuaries and activism.

Christspiracy goes on tour

In addition to the digital release, Christspiracy is currently on a tour of college campuses in the US. In partnership with Allied Scholars, the tour has featured screenings at Harvard, MIT, Yale, Penn, and other esteemed universities. There will be live Q&A sessions with film’s co-director Kameron Waters, the CEO of Allied Scholars, biomedical scientist Dr. Faraz Harsini, and others. The free-to-attend tour will run through November 22.

The remaining screenings are as follows: 

• UArizona | Tucson, AZ | Tuesday, November 19 2024
• UC Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Thursday, November 21 2024

Sign up for screening near you here. 

Christspiracy trailer

You can watch the Christspiracy trailer below:

Will Christspiracy be on Netflix?

Andersen’s previous films have been available to watch on streaming service Netflix, but this will not be the case for Christspiracy. 

Due to the controversial nature of the film, which was originally called Cowspiritual, Andersen said that Netflix had asked for substantial edits, which weren’t in line with the makers’ vision of the film. 

“[We are] super grateful to Netflix for providing a platform and releasing the other three previous films,” Andersen previously told Plant Based News (PBN). “With this film it is a little challenging, as some of the subject matter is so bold and so controversial.”

What is Christspiracy about?

As mentioned previously, the film explores a range of different religions and disciplines, but its central focus – as the name suggests – concerns the life of Jesus Christ. 

According to the creators, the film exposes the “biggest cover-up in 2,000 years.” Andersen says that this cover-up is “deeply embedded in the fabric of our society,” and that the film’s revelation “just might redefine what it truly means to be human(e).”

It exposes this cover-up by exploring how some religions have adapted over time, through industry and government collusion, to enable their followers to justify cruelty to animals, when this is not what they originally preached. 

“Christspiracy is an exclusive story about Jesus Christ that has never been told before,” said Andersen. “What we have uncovered will transform history and future teachings forever.”

He added that the film shows “the truth about what Jesus really meant and what He wanted,” and that the findings were verified by Oxford University professors and doctors. 

“We unveil why the world’s religions have been manipulated to hide the truth from their people,”  said Andersen. “The film and truth will shock you to the core.”

Is Christspiracy anti-Christian?

For anyone concerned that the film may have anti-religious themes, the filmmakers have clarified that the film is not anti-Christian, or anti any of the other religions explored. 

In an Instagram post responding to the question of whether Christspiracy is a “Christian or Christian-bashing film,” Andersen and Waters said: “Absolutely not. In fact, this film explores more than the Christian faith and includes Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and even philosophy, sociology, and history to deeply explore how faiths around the world answer the question: ‘Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal?’ No Christians were harmed in the making of this film. We promise.”

They have also stated that they’re “not pointing fingers, we’re asking questions.”

“What’s been really fun [in test screenings] is that from atheists to devout conservative Christians, any walk of life, they love this film.”

Waters grew up in Georgia, and spent the majority of his childhood in the church. As a child, he never questioned his decision to eat animals, as everyone around him had always eaten meat. He was involved in Christian hunting and fishing clubs growing up, until eventually he started asking himself the same question he would ask Andersen years later: Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal? And if so, how would Jesus kill an animal?

Watch Christspiracy now here.

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Farmed Animals Numbers Drop In Europe As Meat Production Falls

Food For Profit exposes the links between the European Parliament and the 387 billion euros-funded factory farming industry. It is the result of a five-year investigation by journalist Giulia Innocenzi and a team of investigators. The film is directed by Pablo D’Ambrosi, and it will soon be showing in the UK for the first time.

After the film aired primetime on Italy’s national broadcaster in May, Italy’s agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida publicly criticized it. He said it “targeted an entire industry” when in reality “it’s just a few exceptions who act in a bad way.” He defended Italy’s farming sector, saying that “the great majority of our farmers follow the rules.”

Responding to his words, Innocenzi told Plant Based News: “Usually the meat industry keeps silent in front of criticism, because they know it’s the best way to stay away from problems. But this time Food For Profit had too much echo, as public opinion was outraged by the reality of factory farm productions. So what they did was try to discredit our work by saying it’s just a few bad apples.”

“Unfortunately, intensive farms are the same in any country, with animal suffering and environmental pollution,” she added. “And people are starting to understand that. This is why the industry is so frightened.”

‘Food For Profit’ exposes politicians

Lollobrigida also defended Paolo De Castro, a former MEP who was secretly filmed for the film. De Castro became a MEP in 2009 and was twice Minister for Agriculture and Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Following the release of the film, he did not run for re-election.

Read more: German Farmers Offered Incentives To Move Away From Pigs

Lollobrigida expressed “solidarity” with De Castro, saying: “He has been victim of attacks that I believe come from a strong ideology.” He made these comments at a public meeting organized by meat industry associations about Food For Profit, at which they announced they would begin work on a film called Food For Life.

The Food For Profit filmmakers attended the meeting. Lollobrigida accused them of seeking to “gain success and money through a film that describes as criminals those who produce our great food.” He admitted to not having watched the film.

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Food For Profit has its UK premiere in Ealing, London, on October 29, Brighton on October 30, and Brixton, London, on November 7. You can find out more information here.

Read more: Lupita Nyong’o Endorses Plant-Based Food In ‘The Wild Robot’ Film Promo

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Lupita Nyong’o Endorses Plant-Based Food In ‘The Wild Robot’ Film Promo

Dr. Campbell, who turned 90 this year, is a US biochemist and nutrition researcher. He coined the term “whole food plant-based diet” in 1980. He is the co-author of the influential book The China Study (2005), which explores the link between diet and chronic diseases, particularly emphasizing the health benefits of a healthy plant-based diet.

Now, his life and work is set to be made into a film titled Dr. Campbell. The film will explore his life from his childhood growing up on a dairy farm in the 1930s to being one of the most respected names in plant-based nutrition. It will look at some of the resistance he faced from academic, political, and corporate entities for his groundbreaking work on animal-free eating. 

Ward, who famously worked on films including The Sting (1973) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993), will direct the film. This will be his first feature film since the 1996 movie Down Periscope.

Read more: Evanna Lynch Narrates New Short Film ‘Sanctuary’

About “Dr. Campbell”

As reported by Variety, the film’s logline reads: “From an unlikely starting point, and later battling his own illness, scientist Dr. Colin T. Campbell discovers that an animal-based diet dramatically increases the risk of disease, which threatens government, corporate and academic groups more interested in power and profit than in truth and health.”

The film is being produced by Silent D Pictures and PlantPure Productions. Among its producers is Dr. Campbell’s son Nelson Campbell, who has previously worked on documentaries about plant-based diets. John Corry, who worked on 2011 vegan documentary Forks Over Knives, will also serve as producer. 

Dr Campbell will likely be released sometime in 2026, with production beginning next year. 

Read more: Jane Goodall And Leonardo DiCaprio To Produce Live Action Film Told From Dog And Wolf’s Perspective

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Is The Impossible Burger Vegan? The Debate Explained

The Impossible Corn Dog is the brand’s Impossible Hot Dog wrapped in a cornbread-style exterior. As well as offering nine grams of protein per serving, the corn dogs also contain around 40 percent less saturated fat than their pork-based meat counterparts. Impossible Meat Makers are a preseasoned version of the company’s beef grounds. They are available in Italian-style and Taco flavors. 

If you have little ones in your home, the Disney Impossible Lion King Chicken Nuggets may just be the most exciting launch. They consist of Impossible Chicken Nuggets cut into shapes of Mufasa and Simba. The launch coincides with the upcoming release of Disney’s prequel film – named Mufasa: The Lion King – which hits theaters on December 20. 

“Our new Lion King Nuggets are a fun way for kids and adults to enjoy our delicious plant-based chicken nuggets – given we all know and love the epic movie, and of course the timeless soundtrack,” Peter McGuinness, president and CEO of Impossible Foods, said in a statement. 

Read more: Impossible Wants To ‘Solve The Meat Problem With More Meat’

Impossible Foods

Established in 2011 by Dr. Patrick O. Brown, a former Stanford University biochemistry professor, Impossible Foods is a food technology company based in the United States that specializes in creating plant-based alternatives to animal products. The company aims to reduce the environmental impact of animal farming by providing sustainable plant-based meat substitutes. 

According to Impossible Foods, it’s the fastest growing plant-based meat company in the US. Its flagship product, the Impossible Burger, is designed to mimic the taste, texture, and nutritional content of traditional beef burgers. It utilizes ingredients such as soy protein and heme, a molecule responsible for the meat-like flavor.

The company has expanded its product line to include other meat alternatives, such as chicken and sausage substitutes. Impossible Foods products can be found in grocery stores, restaurants, and fast-food chains in the U.S. and internationally.

The Impossible Corn Dog, Impossible Meal Makers, and Impossible Lion King Chicken Nuggets are being rolled out to US grocery stores in the coming weeks.

Read more: Impossible Foods Opens Pop-Up Restaurant In Collaboration With Oatly

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Jane Goodall And Other Guests Served Vegan Lunch At New York Times Climate Event

The Academy Award-winning actor voices the titular robot, Roz, who must adapt to her new surroundings after being ship-wrecked on a remote island. Throughout the film, Roz builds relationships with the local wildlife and even adopts a small orphaned goose.

Wildlife protection, resilience, and adaptability are key themes in the new film, and each one is also important to real-life sustainability and conservation efforts. Nyong’o lists several key ways people can help Roz check things off her to-do list and take care of the environment.”

In the video, Nyong’o first encourages people to “go outside,” and notes that nature is all around us, whether in big cities or small towns. “I like to walk around my neighborhood and see what plants and animals I can spot,” she adds.

Nyong’o suggests people “do something good for the planet,” whether that’s a park clean-up, volunteering with animals, or planting a pollinator garden. She also recommends a visit to your local library to read and learn more about wildlife and the environment.

“Eat veggies,” adds Nyong’o. “Not only is plant-based food delicious and filling, but it’s good for you and the environment.” She also suggests that people talk about these topics with their friends and family and hopefully get them involved in sustainability efforts.

Read more: Evanna Lynch Narrates New Short Film ‘Sanctuary’

Eating more plants helps humans, animals, and the planet

All of the points listed by Nyong’o are regarded as great ways to interact with nature, support wildlife, and protect the environment, but eating less meat and more plants arguably stands out. Environmental researcher Professor Joseph Poore once described going vegan as “probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth.”

As noted by Nyong’o, eating more plant-based foods has far-reaching benefits for human health, animals, and the environment. According to the first draft of 2023’s IPCC report, plant-based diets can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50 percent.

“Making the planet a better place is easier if we do it together,” says Nyong’o.

The Wild Robot launched in the US at the end of September and is coming to UK theaters on October 18. It is expected to join Netflix in the middle of 2025.

Read more: Scientists Capture Footage Of Octopuses And Fishes Hunting Cooperatively

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Animal Testing Lab Transforms Into Rescued Animal Sanctuary

The animated short tells the story of a mother and daughter who run an animal sanctuary. The pair rescue a hurt cow who escapes when the livestock lorry carrying them to slaughter crashes in the rain.

The concept and script for Sanctuary were created by Generation Vegan (GenV) Brazil Marketing Director Isa Siano, who cited the real-life rescue of two pigs known as “the Marias” and Indigo the calf. 

The Marias were rescued from an overturned truck while Indigo was famously carried out of a Los Angeles slaughterhouse by vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix. All three animals, along with Indigo’s mother Liberty, now reside in animal sanctuaries.

“Writing this animation has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Every step of the process filled me with joy as I brought to life the story of Indigo and her mom, reflecting the compassion and love I believe all animals deserve,” said Siano. “I want to showcase the beauty of the connection between humans and animals when they are given the opportunity to live in freedom and harmony.”

Read more: Vegan Meat Boss Criticizes Pork Brand Jolly Hog Over ‘High Welfare’ Claims

‘They all want to live, just like us’

Lynch is a vegan actor, writer, and outspoken advocate for animal rights. She noted: “We don’t often get to see animals in that way. We often don’t see them as individuals. We don’t often see their will to live. And I think this story reminds us that they all want to live, just like us.”

GenV is releasing Sanctuary in four languages, each of which is narrated by a high-profile vegan actor. Lynch narrates the English language version, Xuxa narrates in Portuguese, Marcela Kloosterboer in Spanish, and Sneha Ullal in Hindi.

Read more: Groundbreaking Documentary ‘They’re Trying To Kill Us’ Exposes The Link Between Diet And Racism

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: ‘Cowspiracy’ Co-Director Announces New Film: ‘How To Make Drugs’

The film is executively produced by NBA star Chris Paul and singer Billie Eilish. It looks at how people of color are disproportionately affected by high rates of chronic disease and premature death. This, the film says, is because of the racist design of the food system, and did not happen by accident. Lewis – known as “Badass Vegan” on social media – features as a protagonist and narrator of the film, traveling around the US uncovering the intersection of race and diet. Throughout the documentary, he makes eye-opening discoveries about the health disparities affecting minorities in the country. 

“It’s a film about food injustice and social justice through the lens of Hip Hop,” Lewis previously said in an interview. “People have been beat down for so long that they believe that most of the health problems that we suffer from are hereditary and not a choice of what we actually eat.”

Read more: ‘Food For Profit’: The New Documentary On Factory Farming In Europe

John Lewis’ vegan journey

After being adopted at birth due to his birth mother being a drug addict, Lewis grew up as an “overweight kid” before going on to become a prominent health and wellness advocate. He is now passionate about spreading compassion for both human and non-human animals, as well as promoting healthy diets and lifestyles. 

He initially went vegetarian while in grad school, and it was while he was there that his mother got sick. The doctors told him that she got ill because of too much fried fatty foods and animal protein. Lewis then discovered that diseases like heart disease, hypertension, and some cancers are related to consumption of animal protein, rather than being hereditary, as he had previously believed. He then started exploring the plant-based and vegan lifestyles, and embarked on an animal-free diet.

A ‘mind-blowing’ film

Viewers have described They’re Trying To Kill Us as “mind-blowing,” “phenomenal,” and a “work of art.” Lewis looks at never-before-explored topics, uncovering a shocking link between the fast food and big pharma industries in the US. They’re Trying To Kill Us features appearances from Hip Hop legends like Dame Dash, Professor Griff, Styles P, Sa-Roc, and many more. 

The film is directed by both Lewis and Keegan Kuhn, the co-director of award-winning documentaries Cowspiracy (2014) and What The Health (2017). “This film is important to me because it’s a story that hasn’t been told in the mainstream,” Kuhn told Plant Based News. “The film squarely looks at the disproportionate rates of chronic disease Americans of color face and the deep societal and political underpinnings that started and perpetuate the premature death of African Americans in particular. The film shines a light on the dark history of racist policies in the US and presents a pathway forward to restoring health and greater liberation.”

The film features an all-star cast of celebrities, experts, and influencers from a wide variety of fields. Singers Ne-Yo and Mya speak about their personal food journeys in the film, appearing alongside the likes of entrepreneur Pinky Cole, actor Tabitha Brown, pro bodybuilder Torre Washington, and many more. 

Plant-based physicians Dr Rosa Kincaid, Dr Milton Mills, and Dr Neal Barnard all offer their expert opinion on diets and nutrition, informing viewers about the many benefits of animal-free eating. 

Lewis works with all the guest speakers to uncover what the filmmakers describe as “the singular most deadly threat to American society that mainstream media doesn’t want to talk about.” 

Food racism in the US

Food injustice is a huge and prevailing issue in the US, with Black people being affected far more by diet and lifestyle-related illnesses. 

Almost half of all Black adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, while nearly one in five have diabetes. The film states that society has been structured in a way that limits Black communities from gaining access to healthy food. As plant-based physician Dr Michael Greger points out in the film, the fast food industries, alongside the tobacco and alcohol industries, “target people of color.”

Only around eight percent of African Americans live in communities that have a grocery store, compared to 31 percent of white Americans. “There’s something about being here that’s making Black people sick,” Dr Kincaid, an expert in plant-based diets and preventative medicine, says in the film. 

How to watch They’re Trying To Kill Us

The film is available to watch for free on Tubi and YouTube. Find out more about They’re Trying To Kill Us film on its website. 

Read more: ‘I Could Never Go Vegan’: How To Watch The Hugely Anticipated Documentary

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Cillian Murphy Discusses His Decision To Go Plant-Based

In a post on Instagram, where Smith has 2.4 million followers, he wrote: “The fans at the Con have been amazing but Liverpool itself is just magical! I mean, look at the exquisite (Vegan!) cake @thenortherntartstreats made for me! That’s just Liverpool lovely!” 

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A post shared by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith)

Manchester-based bakery The Northern Tart made Smith and collaborator Jay Mewes a stoned marijuana leaf-shaped cake with the caption (in icing) “rollin fatties smokin blunts.” It’s a line from a song sang in his and Mewes’ 2001 comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

The Northern Tart told Plant Based News that the cake was vanilla, dark chocolate and dark cherry flavored. The company used agar-agar in place of gelatin, and the result was an “amazingly moist, light, and bouncy” cake.

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A post shared by The Northern Tart | Manchester Cakes & Bakes (@thenortherntartstreats)

Smith’s veganism

Smith went vegan in 2018 at the urging of his daughter Harley Quinn after he had a near-fatal heart attack. He credits cutting animal products from his diet with the rapid weight loss that doctors told him he needed to protect his heart.

On an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast, he described how his lab tests returned “fantastic” results after only one month eating plant-based. He also discussed his favorite vegan restaurants, including Crossroads Kitchen in LA, in which Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker is an investor.

Read more: Pamela Anderson To Release Plant-Based Cookbook

In 2019, Smith and Harley Quinn presented an award to an animal rights activist at Mercy For Animals’ 20th Anniversary Gala. There he told Variety that he receives a lot of anti-vegan hostility on social media. “Whenever I post something about being vegan, they get pretty upset and say ‘I’m going to eat four times as much meat’ and I’m like, ‘See you in hell.’” He added that he doesn’t tell people what to eat, but merely responds “to questions about why I look the way I look suddenly.”

“[Y]ou have to be very careful about how you couch it because some people feel like I’ve had so much taken away, now you are going to take away my meat,” he said. “Do what you want. I took away my meat to save my life.”

Read more: Nicki Minaj Launches Range Of Barbie Pink Vegan Sneakers

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.