Checkpoint Zoo

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2:54

Checkpoint Zoo

2025

1h 47m

Documentary

Nature

War

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Popcornmeter

100%

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17 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian war Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, was turned into a warzone. On one side of the battlefield was the invading Russian army, on the other side, the defending Ukrainians, and caught in between them, was a zoo called Feldman Ecopark. More than just a zoo, Feldman Ecopark was an animal sanctuary that offered countless therapy programs to everyone from soldiers with PTSD to children with special needs. As the war ravaged on, and the shelling increased, it was clear that the bravery of the staff wouldn't be enough to save the animals trapped inside. With the help of four young volunteers, these zookeepers would undertake a seemingly impossible mission -- they would risk life and limb to evacuate over 5,000 animals, including scores of dangerous predators, and deliver them to safety. Drawing from first-hand footage, Award-winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman's Checkpoint Zoo showcases a story of human compassion, bravery, and sacrifice during Ukraine's darkest hours. shining a light on the best of humanity when it is all too easy to focus on the worst.

Nicolas Rapold

New York Times

Aug 15

Checkpoint Zoo portrays a caged and dependent menagerie that bewilderingly experienced humans at their worst and, fortunately, their best.

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Dennis Harvey

Variety

01/08/2025

A prolific producer whose prior directorial projects were largely in a true-crime vein, Zeman brings considerable polish as well as suspense to this exercise in more urgent, you-are-there documentary narrative.

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Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

Sep 7

It’s certainly an admirable effort, both the animal rescue itself and the warzone documentation of it

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Lynn Venhaus

AWFJ.org

Sep 6

It's impossible to watch this gripping, haunting and heart-tugging documentary and not be moved by the human stories and animal predicaments caused by an unprovoked war. Josh Zeman captures raw emotions with the taut storytelling of an action thriller.

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Anne Brodie

What She Said

Aug 29

4/4

The unprovoked Russian war on Ukraine’s heartbreaking toll, cruel and unforgivable, has upended its people and zoo animals ..As the bombardment begins, zoo employees flee. …without a doubt on of the most moving docs in a while.

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Megan McLachlan

The Contending

Aug 15

Not only are these people dodging gunfire, but they’re also carefully maneuvering a 400-lb tranquilized killer on a tarp — and if that animal wakes up, they won’t even be thinking about the gunfire anymore. Checkpoint Zoo is truly a high-wire act.

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rgsanchez615

Sep 22

No one ever thinks about how animals in captivity react to wars. This documentary is heroic and conveys humans who are courageous enough to rescue thousands of animals in a zoo. The volunteers who rescued the animals in Ecopark during the border of Russia and Ukraine while being bombed are humanitarians and heroes we should celebrate. It was heart wrenching how humans put their lives on the line for taking care of animals who dont have a choice in escaping wars.

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Barbara

Sep 14

What a wonderful commentary on not only the courage, bravery, love &devotion these people have towards the animals, but also on the Ukrainian spirit. The world must not let Russia take over this amazing sovereign country!

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Alice S

Sep 2

It was very moving seeing such heroic actions. it also emphazised how horrendous and destructive war is.

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Steven S

Aug 23

Unbelievable! Absolutely must see if you love animals.

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Barry

Aug 18

Absolutely a fantastic domovie that brings the horror of the Ukraine war and the heroic action to save 5000 zoo animals from certain death to us in great and first hand detail. Anyone concerned for animal life and human caring amid adversity will want to see this movie!

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zachary m

Aug 17

This was an amazing documentary.

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Joshua Zeman

Director

Joshua Zeman

Writer

Zachary Mortensen

Producer

Joshua Zeman

Producer

Ian Davies

Producer

Torquil Jones

Producer

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Checkpoint Zoo: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian war Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, was turned into a warzone. On one side of the battlefield was the invading Russian army, on the other side, the defending Ukrainians, and caught in between them, was a zoo called Feldman Ecopark. More than just a zoo, Feldman Ecopark was an animal sanctuary that offered countless therapy programs to everyone from soldiers with PTSD to children with special needs. As the war ravaged on, and the shelling increased, it was clear that the bravery of the staff wouldn't be enough to save the animals trapped inside. With the help of four young volunteers, these zookeepers would undertake a seemingly impossible mission -- they would risk life and limb to evacuate over 5,000 animals, including scores of dangerous predators, and deliver them to safety. Drawing from first-hand footage, Award-winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman's Checkpoint Zoo showcases a story of human compassion, bravery, and sacrifice during Ukraine's darkest hours. shining a light on the best of humanity when it is all too easy to focus on the worst.

Director: Joshua Zeman
Producer: Zachary Mortensen, Joshua Zeman, Ian Davies, Torquil Jones
Screenwriter: Joshua Zeman
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Ghost Robot
Genre: Documentary, Nature, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 15, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 47m