National Geographic revealed the official trailer for Wild Life, a documentary spotlighting former Patagonia CEO and president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, Kristine Tompkins, on an epic, decades-spanning love story as wild as the landscapes she has dedicated her life to protecting. After falling in love in midlife, Kris and outdoorsman and entrepreneur Doug Tompkins left behind the world of the massively successful outdoor brands they’d helped pioneer — Patagonia, The North Face and Esprit — and turned their attention to a visionary effort to create National Parks throughout Chile and Argentina. Wild Life chronicles their journey to effect the largest private land donation in history.
Wild Life, the latest documentary film from Academy Award-winning directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (“Free Solo”), premiered at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival and will screen as part of the 2023 SXSW Film Festival on March 12, 2023.
Picturehouse will open Wild Life theatrically in select cities, beginning on April 14 in New York City and Washington, D.C., with the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, Boulder, Portland, Seattle, Miami, Bozeman and Salt Lake City dates to follow.
Following the theatrical release, the film will have its broadcast debut on National Geographic Channel on May 25 and will stream next day on Disney+.
The film spans decades of entrepreneurial and conservation work and serves as a stunning look into the unbelievable professional and personal highs and lows of Kristine’s life. Shot all across the wilderness of Chile, in conjunction with archival footage, the film is ripe with lush cinematography and poignant moments. The film also chronicles Kris and Doug’s close relationship with Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, and Kris’ time working in the early days of his climbing gear company, Chouinard Equipment, which quickly evolved into the conscious outdoor adventure brand that we know today as Patagonia.
Kristine Tompkins stated, “Jimmy and Chai have honored Doug’s and my life’s work in a profound, moving way. I am grateful. I can only wish that Wild Life offers a semblance of hope and reminds anyone who sees it that whoever you are and wherever you live you can make a difference in this world. Our work at Tompkins Conservation — restoring the planet by creating parks on land and sea and rewilding — is constant and ongoing.”
Chin and Vasarhelyi noted, “As filmmakers, we have always loved telling stories about human potential and the power of the human spirit. We love examining what humans can achieve when they commit to the impossible. Kris and Doug lived extraordinary lives, leaving everything behind to find meaning and love. Through their journey, they created the biggest private land handover in history, protecting almost 15 million acres of land against insurmountable odds. Conservation at this level and scale changes the world. We are so excited to share this story.”
Watch the official trailer for Wild Life.
DATE | CITY
April 14
NEW YORK
WASHINGTON, D.C.
April 19
SAN FRANCISCO/SAN RAFAEL
April 21
SF BAY AREA EXPANSION (Oakland, San Jose, Santa Cruz)
LOS ANGELES
PASADENA
VENTURA
ORANGE COUNTY
April 29
AUSTIN
DENVER
BOULDER
May 5
PORTLAND
SEATTLE
BOZEMAN
MIAMI
SALT LAKE CITY