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Ric O'Barry

@richardobarry

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Founder/Director of Dolphin Project. Author of “Behind the Dolphin Smile” and “To Free a Dolphin.” @dolphin_project New Doc 🎥 @freeingflipper

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O’Barry’s beginnings as a dolphin trainer and journey into a dedicated animal advocate is the basis for the new documentary @FreeingFlipper, executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, is also produced by O’Barry’s son, Lincoln O’Barry, who, like his dad, is devoted to ending dolphin captivity. He also had a front-row seat to his father’s work.

“One of Ric O’Barry’s greatest accomplishments has been taking something that, not that long ago, most people barely thought about—dolphin captivity—and forcing it into the cultural conversation,” Lincoln, 54, tells PEOPLE, adding that now because of organizations like Dolphin Project, “countries around the world are banning dolphin shows, and the idea of seaside sanctuaries has moved from something considered unrealistic to something governments, scientists, and animal-welfare groups are seriously discussing.” by @richardobarry

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An extraordinary collection of renowned activists, award-winning filmmakers, and technical artists united behind this ambitious feature documentary.

The creative team behind the camera ensures a stunning visual and auditory experience throughout the entire feature runtime, which the audience will witness soon.

Dogwoof represents international sales, presenting the feature to buyers at major film markets, including the Toronto International Film Festival. The project is currently completing final market previews before securing official worldwide streaming and theatrical distribution channels. Audiences can expect formal platform availability and release dates following upcoming film festival premieres.

Freeing Flipper highlights Ric O’Barry’s transformation from a television dolphin trainer to a dedicated global animal rights activist. While an official streaming platform has not been announced for Freeing Flipper, assumptions are based on the production company, Appian Way, and the distribution sales agent, Dogwoof. taken in TIFF Toronto International Film Festival by @richardobarry

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We’re thrilled to announce that Appian Way, the production company founded by Academy Award winner @leonardodicaprio, has joined Dogwoof, Copper Island and Bay Rock on FREEING FLIPPER as Executive Producers.

Directed by @barnaby_douglas (McEnroe, Warriors), the film tells the remarkable true story of @richardobarry - once the world’s highest-paid dolphin trainer and the man behind the dolphins of Flipper, whose extraordinary change of course would ultimately make him the central figure in Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove.

Now 86, Ric looks back on more than five decades of an extraordinary life shaped by dolphins, the triumphs, sacrifices, relationships and personal cost of a mission he could never walk away from.

Featuring @fisherstevens, @maisie_williams, @stephenstillsofficial and @lincolnobarry, alongside one of Dr. Jane Goodall’s final on-screen appearances, @freeingflipper combines never-before-seen family archive with immersive dolphin-POV cinematography to tell a story of freedom, legacy, family and redemption.

A Dogwoof production, we will be launching international sales at TIFF: The Market this September.

Read the exclusive in @deadline. by @richardobarry

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EXCLUSIVE: Appian Way, the production company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio, is signing on to executive produce Freeing Flipper, a documentary about Ric O’Barry, who went from dolphin trainer to becoming a fierce advocate for freeing all captive dolphins.
Appian Way joins Dogwoof, Copper Island and Bay Rock as E.P.s on the project, with Dogwoof set to launch international sales of the film at the upcoming TIFF market. The documentary directed by Barney Douglas (McEnroe, Warriors), features Oscar winner Fisher Stevens (The Cove); actor and activist Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones); musician Stephen Stills, and O’Barry’s son and fellow activist Lincoln O’Barry. It also features Dr. Jane Goodall, the primatologist and conservationist, in one of her final interviews before her passing last year.

In the 1960s, Ric O’Barry trained the dolphins for the series Flipper, “the television phenomenon that made America fall in love with dolphins on screen,” as a release notes. “Everything changed when his dolphin Kathie died in his arms in what he believed was an act of despair, transforming the industry’s golden boy into its fiercest opponent. As founder of Dolphin Project, Ric has exposed the hidden world of dolphin captivity, from marine parks to Japan’s notorious dolphin hunts.”

O’Barry came to believe “every captive dolphin deserves a way home. Revered by some and reviled by others, his single-minded pursuit came at an extraordinary personal cost, pulling him between his family and a mission from which he could never quite walk away.” by @richardobarry

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Empty The Tanks 2025 starts TODAY 🌎🐬 Dolphin Project Founder/Director Ric O'Barry and Jeff Ventre (former SeaWorld trainer, as seen in Blackfish) joined local advocates at SeaWorld Orlando for an Empty The Tanks Worldwide demonstration this morning!⁠
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Find a location to join THIS WEEKEND at: emptythetanks.org/upcomingevents (🔗 in our bio)⁠
Empty The Tanks Worldwide is an annual event of worldwide peaceful demonstrations that anyone, anywhere, can participate in to help spread awareness about the issues dolphins and whales face in captivity. We hope you'll join in and add your voice! ⁠
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#DolphinProject #EmptyTheTanks #dolphin #animals #orca #thanksbutnotanks⁠ taken in SeaWorld Orlando - Brasil by @richardobarry

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a year ago

Ric O’Barry, the former trainer of Flipper, went from working with dolphins in captivity to becoming a leading advocate for their freedom. He founded Dolphin Project to fight for dolphin protection and conservation. 🐬

Their impact speaks for itself: They created the world’s first and only permanent dolphin sanctuary, continue to expose the brutal dolphin drives in Taiji, and work tirelessly to end captivity.

Together, GOT BAG and Dolphin Project share a mission to protect our oceans and the incredible wildlife that calls them home. Let’s make waves for change! 🌊

#ForThoseWhoDo #DolphinProject #gotbag by @richardobarry

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a year ago

It’s been a long time coming: I’ve waited for this moment since Earthday April 22nd 1970. The Miami Seaquarium is finally going down. by @richardobarry

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France: We are urging French authorities NOT to allow Marineland d’Antibes to sell its 12 bottlenose dolphins and two orcas (Wikie and her son, Keijo) to captive dolphin facilities abroad. Dolphin Project Founder/Director @richardobarry recently participated in meetings with French Minister for Ecological Transition, together with other dolphin and whale advocates- more on our blog at: https://bit.ly/4hFOhS6 (🔗 in our bio)⁠
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#DolphinProject #thanksbutnotanks #emptythetanks #dolphin #dolphins #animals taken in Marineland Antibes by @richardobarry

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