Janna Giacoppo’s Powerful New Documentary ‘One But Many’ Premieres at Dances With Films LA

Screens Sunday, June 29th at 2:30 PM

In her directorial debut One But Many, photographer, filmmaker and human-wildlife coexistence advocate Janna Giacoppo exposes how trophy hunting policies, often framed as conservation, deepen ecological harm and disempower the communities on the front lines. It was on a work assignment in Kenya, that she learned about the threats of human-wildlife conflict, the fastest growing threat to endangered species. The film premieres Sunday, June 29th at Dances With Films LA.

One But Many is an absolutely beautiful film, both in production and story. An utterly devastating and yet beautiful and inspiring, expose about the human wildlife conflict in Africa, which is the epicenter of the conflict, as human population rises, and wildlife, and resources both decrease. The animals become stressed by lack of resources, especially the severe drought as a result of human-caused climate change, and then become more likely to attack humans and their livestock. 

Africans had lived in harmony with the local wildlife, until colonial powers arrived, bringing with them ideas of ‘civilization’ and of trophy hunting, which though it lies and says it’s about conservation, its continued practice along with poaching, has driven species to near extinction levels, and have driven local communities from their land. 

But, while the very big, well connected, sociopathic trophy hunting and poaching businesses sell lies, and murders countless for sport and profit, there are small African communities, who instead, have implemented incredibly successful and profitable wildlife photography tours. It turns out African wildlife is ‘far more valuable alive than dead”. This “Community Conservation” business keeps the animals safe and alive, and fosters a sense of community and unity, not only with each other, but with the animals, and the wild natural world. This business, equitably run by the community also brings in sustainable income  – so much so that “for each local person employed in wildlife photography tourism their income supports up to 10 family members.”

Living in harmony with…

Besides this tourism industry, the locals have also come up with creative ways to deter any predation of their livestock. Again, living in harmony with, and saving the natural world. Something, we all need to learn. 

As stated in the film,“We need to know we are part of nature, and function our best when surrounded by what is natural to us… 

“What we do to nature here, affects nature around the globe. It’s not just a Kenyan issue, not just an African issue, it’s a global issue.”

And that is the message of One But Many – while exposing the beyond inhumane business of trophy hunting and poaching, by people who lust for blood, just like any serial killer – we see the best of humanity coming up with creative solutions to better not only their lives, but the world and all who live here.

Los Angeles is at the center of this growing conversation in North America…

While the film spans continents, its message lands in California, where Los Angeles is home to The  Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the world’s largest, placing us at the center of a growing conversation about how we live alongside wildlife. Yet despite landmark investments, the dominant response to animals like coyotes – long part of the city’s ecosystem – remains fear, misinformation, and lethal control. 

So, not only is One But Many beautifully and brilliantly crafted, filmed, written, directed, edited, produced, etc etc, it is a perfect story for these times. Go see it.

Janna Giacoppo is a filmmaker, writer, and conservationist, and the founder of The Human-Wildlife Project, a nonprofit supporting community-led solutions to the Human-Wildlife Conflict. Her debut film One But Many and her on-the-ground work in Zambia both expose how trophy hunting, falsely framed as conservation, deepens the very crises it claims to fix.

The TCL Chinese 6 Theaters

The TCL Chinese 6 Theaters (at the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave in Hollywood) is on LEVEL 3 of the Ovation Shopping Complex. Parking is within the building – 4 hrs for $3 with theatre validation. PLEASE ARRIVE 10 minutes prior to screening time as DWFLA screens on time.

Find Tickets to Sunday’s Dances With Films Screening HERE.

Author Gwenn Morreale is CEO/Exec. Producer & Co-Founder of Greater Earth Media.

*Very special thanks to Scandal Co-Active.