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Hey Jackrabbit Media friends,
As the warmth of May settles in, we’re thrilled to bring you the latest updates from the world of independent cinema! Here's what's up with Jackrabbit Media this month:
🌍 Cannes is Just Around the Corner
Our bags are packed and we're gearing up to go to the Marché du Film / Cannes Film Festival! The Jackrabbit team will be at Riviera D9 from May 13–21, 2025, showcasing our latest slate of exciting, genre-driven films.
📢 Up and Coming
Keep an eye out for next month's newsletter where we'll be sharing a closer look at some of our new acquisitions and exciting news about upcoming festivals and markets!
Thanks for continuing to support indie film!
– The Jackrabbit Media Team
In Memoriam: Val Kilmer (1959 - 2025)
It is with deep sorrow we say goodbye to one of Hollywood's iconic and memorable actors. Kilmer's career spanned a remarkable range of characters that showcased both his talent and unwavering commitment to his craft. His contributions to both mainstream cinema and independent film have inspired countless filmmakers, actors, and fans alike.
'A courageous rhinoceros named Riki and his duck companion Beni embark on an exciting journey through lush jungles in search of a magical seed that can save their home from an impending tsunami.'
Digital Release: May 20th
Blu-ray Release: June 24th
April 24th, 2025 - EXCLUSIVE: The Hollywood Reporter announces Electric Entertainment's acquisition of North American distribution rights for The Bunker.
The deal was inked between Electric’s coordinator of sales Addie Booth and Mark Padilla, Jackrabbit Media’s president of worldwide sales and acquisitions.
The Bunker stars the legendary Tony Todd, the iconic Tobin Bell, Chad Michael Collins, and Chelsea Edmundson. (Read More)
February 12th, 2025 - Jackrabbit Media announced the worldwide acquisition of the Christmas Romance film Christmas in Mistletoe, starring Kabby Borders and Tom Gipson. Territories remain available. (Read More)
Producing Team (Riki Rhino: The Bird Kingdom)
Batavia Pictures is a film production and distribution company with a diverse portfolio spanning multiple countries. Their recent projects include Riki Rhino: The Bird Kingdom (2024) and Riki the Rhino (2020), both of which showcase their commitment to producing engaging content and bringing environmental awareness to the world of film.
JRM: What inspired the story of The Bird Kingdom and how does it build on Riki Rhino’s first adventure?
RR Team: The Bird Kingdom continues Riki Rhino’s eastward journey across Indonesia. In the first movie, Riki traveled from his home in Sumatra to Borneo. This time, the journey takes him further east, to Sulawesi and Papua, exploring the stunning and diverse landscapes of the archipelago.
The story is inspired by a real-world environmental issue — the importance of mangrove forests in protecting coastal areas from natural disasters like tsunamis. A study by researchers from Kyoto University found that a 100-meter belt of dense mangroves could reduce a tsunami’s destructive energy by up to 90%.
Being located in the “Ring of Fire,” Indonesia is prone to tsunamis, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that tragically claimed over 160,000 lives in Aceh alone. While we cannot prevent tsunamis, we can mitigate their impact — one key solution being the restoration of mangrove forests.
The movie opens with a tsunami prediction, and our heroes are in a race against time to find a magical seed that holds the key to restoring balance and protecting the land.
JRM: The world of The Bird Kingdom is visually stunning. Can you tell us about the design process and how you created such a vibrant world?
RR Team: To bring the vibrant world of The Bird Kingdom to life, we conducted extensive research into Indonesia’s lush rainforests, studying the diverse flora that makes each island’s ecosystem unique. Our design team looked into the many plant species that thrive in these rainforests to build a rich and immersive backdrop for the story.
For the animals — especially the endangered ones — our designers went beyond photos and videos. They visited wildlife sanctuaries and observed live animals to understand their behavior, body language, and how they move in their natural environments.
We also collaborated with experts from organizations such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and many other local NGOs. These partnerships helped us ensure that the depiction of each species in the film is both accurate and respectful.
One of our biggest challenges was animating the critically endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros. Because of their rarity and vulnerability, gaining access to see one up close involved several protocols — from sending official letters to NGOs and government agencies, to undergoing health screenings to ensure we wouldn’t introduce any pathogens into the sanctuary.
What surprised us most was learning that rhinoceroses are more closely related to horses than elephants. In our initial concept, we imagined the rhino moving slowly and heavily, like an elephant. But in reality, we discovered that the Sumatran Rhino gallops — all four feet lift off the ground, just like a horse. Seeing such a large and powerful animal move so gracefully was a revelation, and it inspired a completely new approach to how we animated Riki’s movement.
This attention to detail, combined with our commitment to authenticity and conservation, is what gives The Bird Kingdom its rich and vibrant visual identity.
This is the YouTube video on our research on one of the world’s most endangered mammal to supplement the answer to Question #2:
https://youtu.be/FlMjLrF6VFc?si=wr-wT1u7ywRB_31J
JRM: What message or theme do you hope young audiences take away from this film?
RR Team: We want young audiences to understand that nature has its own checks and balances — but when humans interfere irresponsibly, those balances are disrupted. Global warming, rising sea levels, forest fires, and increasingly devastating natural disasters are the result of such disruptions.
Indonesia once had the largest mangrove forest coverage in the world, but nearly 40% has been lost in the past three decades. Without these natural barriers, disasters like tsunamis become even more destructive.
Through The Bird Kingdom, we want to show children the value of nature. Trees are not just providers of oxygen — their roots prevent erosion, their leaves protect us from UV rays, and the animals within the forest play vital roles in maintaining the ecosystem. The extinction of even one species could have a domino effect on the entire forest.
By getting to know these animals through the film, we hope children develop a sense of love and responsibility for the natural world.
JRM: Were there any specific birds or animal species you loved bringing to life in animation for this sequel?
RR Team: Absolutely! We’re excited to introduce several new endangered animals in this film.
There’s Kuin the Cendrawasih (Bird of Paradise), Tan Tan the Orangutan, and Lingga the Pangolin, among others. These are animals that are rarely seen in real life — even in zoos — due to their endangered status.
That’s why we use animation: to bring these incredible creatures to life for children. We believe you can’t love what you don’t know, and how can you know something you’ve never seen? By animating these animals, we hope to foster curiosity, empathy, and eventually, action.
JRM: Did any real-world environmental or conservation issues inspire elements of the story?
RR Team: Yes — the film is deeply inspired by real-world conservation challenges. From the loss of mangrove forests to the broader effects of climate change and habitat destruction, The Bird Kingdom reflects the urgent need to restore balance in nature.
We drew from research and current events highlighting Indonesia’s environmental challenges, especially the need to protect and restore its vast natural ecosystems — particularly mangroves — which act as natural shields against disasters like tsunamis.
JRM: Can you give us a sneak peek of any new characters joining Riki on his journey this time?
RR Team: Of course! Joining Riki in this new adventure are:
- Tan Tan, a wise Orangutan who has the gift of foresight.
- Kuin, a spirited and talkative Bird of Paradise who can keep up with Benny’s chatter.
- Lingga, a Pangolin with a unique way of speaking and a gentle demeanor.
These characters not only add color and fun to the story but also help children connect with rare and endangered species in Indonesia.
JRM: If Riki could give one piece of advice to young adventurers out there, what would it be?
RR Team: “Get to know your forest friends.”
We hope that through Riki’s journey, children will be inspired to learn more about the real-life animals featured in the movie — the rhinoceros, orangutan, anoa, cendrawasih, and others. As their interest grows, so will their love and desire to protect these animals and their habitats. After all, adventure doesn’t just happen in the wild — it begins with curiosity.
