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Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa recieving gold for big cat documentary, Dethroned at the ITFFA awards

Big Cat Documentary, Dethroned Honoured at 2025 ITFFA Awards

Groundbreaking investigative big cat documentary Dethroned wins Gold 

10.6.2025

Johannesburg 10 June 2025 — TERRA MATER STUDIOS, FOUR CORNERS FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY, in association with global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS wins Gold for its groundbreaking investigative documentary Dethroned recognised in the Wildlife and Conservation category at the 2025 International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) awards held last night in Sandton. The film shines a powerful spotlight through the lens of award-winning photojournalist Aaron Gekoski on the reality of global and South Africa’s commercial big cat industry.

Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa, Fiona Miles who accepted the award, attended the prestigious ceremony. Miles played a key role in the production and advocacy campaign surrounding Dethroned. 

“Dethroned gives a voice to the voiceless – the thousands of lions and other big cats bred and exploited for profit in South Africa’s commercial big cat industry. Receiving recognition from ITFFA is a moment of honour, not only for our team but for the animals whose stories so urgently need to be heard. We hope this award drives further momentum towards the end of captive lion breeding in South Africa.”

Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa

“The tourism industry has taken a huge toll on big cats around the world, which are now commodified and used in the name of entertainment. We hope Dethroned sends a message out to the industry, that we must do more to protect these magnificent animals.” 

Aaron Gekoski, Photojournalist and Film-maker

The film synopsis takes viewers on a journey through the relationship between humans and big cats. For millennia, mankind has revered them; the source of our greatest wonders, and our greatest fears.

“From the jungles of Peru and the lion farms of South Africa to exotic pet owners in Pakistan and Southeast Asia’s illegal wildlife trade, Dethroned is a thoughtful and beautifully crafted investigation into our relationship with big cats. Terra Mater Studios documentaries aim to inspire, but also to change mindsets in a positive and lasting way. That’s why we became part of Dethroned. Receiving an award at this festival is an important step for the film, but above all, we hope that the big cats of our world will also benefit from this public attention."

Susanne Lummer, Executive Producer Terra Mater Studios

As part of its #BreakTheViciousCycle campaign, FOUR PAWS continues to advocate for big cats. The recognition at ITFFA emphasises the growing global concern around exploitative wildlife tourism practices and the importance of documentary filmmaking as a tool for social change. It also highlights the critical role of storytelling in protecting South Africa’s natural heritage and biodiversity by ending the commercial exploitation of big cats and restore its commitment to ethical wildlife conservation.

Dethroned is currently being screened internationally as part of FOUR PAWS’ awareness campaign, with public and political engagement aimed at ending South Africa’s role in the commercial trade of big cats and their body parts.

For more information about Dethroned, visit www.four-paws.org.za

/ENDS

Public Relations Officer ZA

Deidre Daniels

Public Relations Officer

Deidre.Daniels@four-paws.org

+27 (0)21 702 4277

+27 (0)78 675 8220

9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park, 
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945

A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.

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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za 

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