Racing Extinction

Racing Extinction follows a bold coalition of scientists, artists, and activists who bring together cutting edge filmmaking and undercover methods to highlight the rapid loss of species around the world. The film reimagines conservation as a multimedia campaign, documenting poaching rings, habitat erosion, and the illicit wildlife trade, while showing the people who dedicate themselves to stopping it. Through live action, hidden cameras, and eye opening demonstrations, the team translates complex science into urgent, picture driven evidence. While it stays focused on the mission rather than personal twists, it keeps the viewer engaged with real world stakes and tangible goals. The film also spotlights local grassroots efforts that work quietly alongside big campaigns.

Directed by Louie Psihoyos, Racing Extinction is a feature documentary built from the ideas of Mark Monroe and ANOHNI, produced by the Oceanic Preservation Society and released in 2015 to festival circuits and selective theatrical runs. It blends investigative footage with advocacy.

With appearances by Jane Goodall and Elon Musk and the backing of a high profile audience, the film helped spark conversations about conservation and the power of media to mobilize action. Its vivid imagery and public screenings kept extinction on the cultural radar beyond academia, inviting broad participation.

Critics praised the film for its immersive visuals and clear call to action, while acknowledging the ethical complexity of exposing animal species to danger for the camera. The documentary centers on human impact, the tension between exploitation and stewardship, and the belief that technology can spur reform in policy and behavior.

It earned recognition from the film industry with a nomination for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards for Manta Ray, a collaboration featuring ANOHNI. The nomination underscored the project’s reach beyond documentary circles into mainstream music and culture. The track became a talking point for how science based cinema can cross borders into popular media.