MILKED, an award-winning kiwi documentary that exposes the whitewash of New Zealand’s multi-billion-dollar dairy industry, looks set to make waves with its global online release on Friday 18 March having surpassed 60 per cent of its $NZD100,000 crowdfunding goal within 24 hours.
MILKED premiered last year at Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival and was the most-watched local film at the festival. It has gone on to win several prestigious international awards, including: Best of Show at the IndieFEST Film Awards, a Gold Award at the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards, as well as Best of Show and Award of Excellence: Women Filmmakers at Impact DOCS Film Awards.
The filmmakers have received support to enable a free global online release for the project and on Tuesday 8 February they launched a month-long crowdfunding campaign with the aim of raising money to promote and amplify the international online release of MILKED.
Within hours, the film was the #1 trending campaign on international crowdfunding site Indiegogo and had hit 60 per cent of its target goal with 27 days to go.
MILKED Producer/Director Amy Taylor says: “We’re so grateful for the incredible support we’ve already received from around the world having only just launched our crowdfunding campaign. It shows how many people are passionate about exposing the truth about the dairy industry, and looking at a better way forward.
“We’re also very fortunate to have a generous donor providing matching funds up to $NZD100,000, so every dollar donated will be doubled.
“Everyone who has worked on this film over the last two and a half years is excited about finally making it available for everyone to see. We’ll now be focusing on an impact campaign to do what we can to create positive change.”
MILKED Presenter/Co-Producer Chris Huriwai (Ngāpuhi, Ngati Porou, Te Ātiawa) says, “The dairy industry needs this wake-up call, it’s time to blow their lid and demand they prioritise fair and long-term sustainability over greed and short-term gains. We need to find pathways for our farmers to transition, the support we’re receiving tells us that people are sick of inaction and are ready for change.
“We’re proud of the solutions presented in MILKED and can’t wait to see the impact that our mahi will have throughout Aotearoa and the world.”
MILKED will be released internationally on Friday 18 March 2022 via WaterBear – the first streaming network dedicated to the future of our planet (founded by the producer of Oscar winner My Octopus Teacher). WaterBear is free and is available in 194 countries on mobile app and web.
