World Circus Culture follows five circus acts from different countries as they rehearse and compete at the “Academy Awards” of circus competitions, the Monte Carlo Circus Festival. Through these personal stories, the film will open peoples’ eyes to the true culture, art, business, and history of circus on an international scale as never seen before. After filming all [...]
After a leisurely afternoon of admiring ligers, petting goats and snuggling with emus at Sarasota’s Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, my sisters and I were treated to a demonstration by the Rosaire Family and a few of their feline friends. This ninth-generation circus family has been training and rescuing exotic animals for several [...]
Some friendships last a lifetime and such is the case for Dr. Jim Laurita and an elephant named Rosie. Laurita is a veterinarian and one-time elephant trainer who worked with Rosie years ago. The pachyderm is now 42 years old and retired from circus life. Laurita is concerned that Rosie will not be able to [...]
Babo is a ten-year-old girl, living in a far off, war-torn country. She seeks shelter in an abandoned circus camp, dodging soldiers and protecting the rest of the orphaned “leftover kid” gang. Life is tough and food is scarce, but she fills her time with imaginative games, reenacting wondrous tales of circus performers with her [...]
Circus Kids tells the story of a St Louis-based youth troupe as they travel overseas to Israel, where they join a local circus club consisting of Jewish and Arabic children. Director Alexander Lipsitz drew inspiration for the project from her own childhood, when she spent time with the Big Apple Circus on account of her [...]
In war-torn Afghanistan, the Afghan Educational Children’s Circus provides kids with a safe space for creative expression. In addition to lessons on “landmine awareness, malaria prevention and the importance of peace,” youth are taught juggling, tumbling and singing. So far, this program has been successful in revitalizing the confidence and happiness for a generation born [...]