Former Texas cattle rancher turn vegan and animal rescuer, Renee King-Sonnen shares her transformational journey in the new verité style documentary Rowdy Girl.

Release Date

Directed by Jason Goldman, Rowdy Girl will open at the Firehouse DCTV in New York on May 31st, and at Laemmle Monica in Los Angeles on June 7th.

Synopsis

Rowdy Girl showcases the inspiring work of Renee King-Sonnen, a former Texas cattle rancher who in 2015, after a spiritual awakening, left the cruel cycle of animal agriculture. After going vegan, King-Sonnen and her husband, Tommy Sonnen, transformed her husband’s beef operation into Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, a farm animal sanctuary that seeks to rescue farm animals from factory farming. Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, located between San Antonio and Houston, in Waelder, TX, has a mission to educate the public about the cruelties of factory farming, to advocate a vegan lifestyle, and to inspire other ranchers to experience a paradigm shift and help them move from participating in the cruelty of factory farming to living with compassion towards the animals whose lives usually end in brutal death.

Renee has lived on both sides of the fence, proving that there is a common ground between farmers and vegans: a shared mission of compassion and sustainability.

Jason Goldman’s verité style documentary lovingly captures the dynamic connection between Renee, her husband Tommy and the hooved and feathered friends who inhabit Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.

“I was originally drawn to Renee’s story when I learned that she was not only rescuing animals, but rescuing ranchers. That idea crystalized in my mind, that her method of activism was disarming, displayed vulnerability, and was authentically holistic. I could see how she embodies the core philosophy of animal liberation: that animals are sentient beings who have their own interests, desires, and complex emotional lives. My intent with this film was to showcase the deep compassion, understanding, and unusual methods that are required of activists to help people open their hearts and minds to the cruel nature of animal agriculture. It was critical to show that there is no blame or judgment upon those working in the industry. Instead, Renee is building a compassionate world in her vision, that is inclusive and accepting, empathetic and patient. This informed how I approached the technical aspects of filmmaking, following strict observational criteria, even avoiding music in favor of the voices and sounds of her animal family. The result is a deeply immersive and emotional experience that speaks to the heart of Renee’s mission. The world is waking up to the ongoing cruelty in industries that rely upon animals to make their products and it’s the work of people like Renee who extend a hand to those ready to change.” – Jason Goldman

Official Trailer

Watch the official trailer for ROWDY GIRL