Checkpoint Zoo


Checkpoint Zoo is a 2024 American documentary film directed by Joshua Zeman. The film follows a group of Ukrainian zookeepers and volunteers who risked their lives to rescue animals trapped in Feldman Ecopark during the 2022 [Russian invasion of Ukraine]. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics.

Synopsis

The documentary deals with the 71-day rescue mission to evacuate thousands of animals from Kharkiv’s Feldman Ecopark, which was shelled with Russian artillery during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Production

Director Joshua Zeman was inspired to create the documentary after seeing a viral video of ChiChi the chimpanzee wandering Freedom Square in Kharkiv. The team gathered footage from zookeepers and news reports and made trips to the site to film additional footage on location.

Release

Checkpoint Zoo had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024, On October 4, 2025, the film was made available globally for one day only via the Gathr Direct-to-Audience VOD platform in honor of World Animal Day.

Critical response

The film was praised by critics for its emotional storytelling and depiction of human-animal compassion during wartime. Britt Collins of The Daily Beast wrote that it as "a work of heart-stopping suspense and tenderness." Dennis Harvey of Variety praised Joshua Zeman's direction, describing it as polished and suspenseful.

Awards and honors