World Premier of the documentary film, Heart of a Lion
Calling all Northeastern mountain lion lovers! Join us for the world premiere of Heart of a Lion at the Boston Film Festival this coming weekend on September 20. This feature-length documentary follows me (Panthera Puma Program Director Mark Elbroch) on a sweeping journey from the wilderness of Jackson, Wyoming, to the misty forests of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula as i study mountain lions over the last 14ish years.
At the center of the story are two mountain lion mothers, F61 and Yoko. The film reveals an intimate portrait of one of North America’s most misunderstood predators — exploring not only their ecological role but also the emotional intelligence and resilience that define their lives in the wild.
Teaser trailer here: https:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOd8CcJggwm/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=5ff1bde6-10ab-4570-8d59-4dfc22d0da8b
If you’re in or near Boston, get your tickets now!
Event Details
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8:30 p.m. (EDT)
Emerson Paramount Theater (Bright Family Screening Room)
Directed by: Joe Pontecorvo
Produced by: Jeff Hogan
Executive Producers: Jon Ayers, Dorothy Bahna
Narrated by: Mark Elbroch
Inspired by the book: The Cougar Conundrum by Mark Elbroch


Mark,
I am reaching out from The Ellen Theatre in Bozeman, Montana. We are hoping to show the film at our the theatre but I am having difficulty finding the distributor. I appreciate any help you can provide.
Hi Glenda, Thanks for your interest! The contact for screenings is Director Joe Pontecorvo, pontecorvoproductions@gmail.com. Joe is exploring the rules about submitting to film festivals and he explained to me that some festivals may limit where and how many public viewing occur before the submission or the event… but know we’d like to share the film far and wide! So let’s hope we can figure something out. Thank you for reaching out. Best wishes, mark elbroch