16/09/2025
We Are Proud To Announce that BLUE ZEUS is an Official Selection of the 26th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival!
When we first heard about Blue Zeus and his family, we felt an immediate pull—this was a story we had to tell. From the beginning, our mission was simple: to shine a light on what America’s wild horses endure and honor their resilience on screen.
The journey took us across seven states and more than 5,000 miles, navigating Wyoming’s backroads and unmarked trails. We spent long days, often from before sunrise to after sunset, in the Red Desert, waiting for the right moments to capture. One morning north of Rawlins, temperatures dropped to –13°F. For the first time, a typically wary band of wild horses allowed us to film them for hours as the sky filled with floating snow crystals. It was a magical experience.
We spent months researching America’s wild-horse management, focusing on the 2020 Red Desert roundup that led to Blue Zeus’s capture. Our work centered on two questions: Who authorized that operation, and does the scientific research underpinning these roundups hold up? With the help of experts and unprecedented interviews with ranchers, the owner of the helicopter company that runs the roundups, BLM officials, the head of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, and a BLM whistleblower we were able to identify those responsible for the roundup and assess the validity of the population-control science used on public lands.
Documentary filmmaking, at its best, brings hidden stories to light. For us, Blue Zeus isn’t just about one horse—it’s about survival, resilience, and the fight for freedom. He and his family’s journey will always live in our hearts, reminding us why this story matters.
📍 Newport Beach Screenings (times subject to change):
• Sun, Oct 19 — 1:00 PM at Regal Big Newport 5
• Wed, Oct 22 — 4:00 PM at THE LOT 3
🎟️ Tickets: newportbeachff2025.eventive.org/schedule/6893f07712c27f2d2d1f2f9c/tickets
