“Women Wildlife Warriors”
Documentary Feature/Series
Created by Kate Hearst, Ph.D. - Filmmaker
Women Wildlife Warriors spotlights “hidden figures” today – Women Wildlife Scientists you don’t know, who are saving our planet. They work in the wild and pioneer unique approaches to combat the killing of endangered wildlife and the destruction of natural habitats around the world. Highlighting remarkable women in their role as scientists is not generally seen on screens large or small. As Marian Wright Edelman once said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Women Wildlife Warriors allows audiences to experience firsthand the challenges and joys of women scientists working fearlessly in the wild to create a world where people and wildlife can live together.
“A Wildlife Calling”
Short Documentary
A Wildlife Calling follows wildlife scientist Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld and her team, African People & Wildlife, as they partner with Maasai communities in Tanzania to save lions, once mortal enemies of the Maasai people. The film presents a fresh model of conservation, deeply human and highly effective at protecting wildlife and the natural landscape.
Kate Hearst is an historian, conservationist and filmmaker. In 2026, Hearst directed and produced her first short documentary, A Wildlife Calling. Kate Hearst holds a Ph.D. in history and a M.F.A. in filmmaking, both from Columbia University. As a film historian, she is featured in the CNN series, The Movies, discussing influential directors and films. Since 2011, Hearst has been teaching film and media studies at various New York-based colleges including: Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, Brooklyn College and the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. She writes regularly for Film International, an online scholarly publication. Prior to teaching, she worked in film & television development at the Polone Company. She also worked for Barbara Kopple, two-time Academy-Award-winning documentary filmmaker. Hearst is a current member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Biodiversity & Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.