| Dominion | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Chris Delforce |
| Written by | Chris Delforce |
| Produced by | Chris Delforce, Farm Transparency Project |
| Narrated by | Joaquin Phoenix Rooney Mara Sadie Sink Sia Kat Von D |
| Edited by | Chris Delforce |
| Music by | Asher Pope |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Dominion is a 2018 Australian documentary film. The documentary was primarily filmed with hidden cameras and drones inside Australian farms and abattoirs. According to the New York Times, Dominion "claims to expose the routine and inhumane practices of animal agriculture in Australia".[1] The film portrays the killing of livestock through methods such as using carbon dioxide to gas pigs, maceration of chicks, and skinning foxes alive.[2][3][4] The film uses shock tactics with footage in multiple industries in Australia, especially agricultural livestock while focusing its message on animal rights.[5][3][6]
Dominion was managed by the animal protection and animal rights organisation, Farm Transparency Project, previously known as Aussie Farms, and was written, directed, and produced by animal rights activist Chris Delforce.[3] The film was funded through crowdfunding campaigns and the Australian animal rights organisation Voiceless.[3] It features narration by the actors Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara and Sadie Sink, as well as the singer Sia.[7] It premiered in Melbourne on 29 March 2018.[8] It was filmed to be a feature-length documentary sequel to Lucent (2014), which mostly focused on the Australian pig farming industry.[9]
Following its release, Dominion received the award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2018 Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival, and Delforce won Best Director at the Festigious International Film Festival.[3] Dominion has been used as a focal point for vegan protest groups, who encourage the general public to watch the documentary.[2]
Australian farmers have been critical of the film, seeing it as an "attack on Australian farming".[1] The Australian Meat Industry Council Chief Executive, Patrick Hutchinson, has said, "What the film shows is not representative of the practices of the wider industry",[9] while the president of the National Farmers' Federation Fiona Simson recognised that there was "room for improvement" by industry to improve animal welfare practices.[9]
