watch the trailer

Watch the Film

film

synopsis

Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Cameras follow these pups through an intense two-year odyssey as they train to become dogs whose ultimate responsibility is to protect their blind partners from harm. Along the way, these remarkable animals rely on a community of dedicated individuals who train them to do amazing, life-changing things in the service of their human. The stakes are high and not every dog can make the cut. Only the best of the best. The pick of the litter.

With deft storytelling skill, directors Dana Nachman and Don Hardy (the two previously co-directed the feature docs The Human Experiment, Witch Hunt, and Love Hate Love) introduce us to a group of unique canine characters along with their human counterparts. Pick of the Litter is a wonderful reminder of the extraordinary relationships we have with our dogs, especially those that we work beside each day.

Screenings & Sales

SCREENING REQUESTS
IFC Films
Danielle.Freiberg@ifcfilms.com
Jasper.Basch@ifcfilms.com

GENERAL INFORMATiON
info@ktffilms.com

past screenings

Signup for Screening Updates here:

Location

Dates

Theater

Website

Los Angeles, CA

Opens Friday, August 31st

Royal Theatre

New York, NY

Opens Friday, August 31st

IFC Center

Encino, CA

Opens Friday, September 7th

Town Center 5

Laguna Niguel, CA

Opens Friday, September 7th

Rancho Niguel 8 Cinemas

Pasadena, CA

Opens Friday, September 7th

Playhouse 7

Portland, OR

Opens Friday, September 7th

Living Room Theaters

Berkeley, CA

Opens Friday, September 7th

Shattuck Cinemas

San Jose, CA

Opens Friday, September 7th

3Below Theaters and Lounge

San Francisco, CA

Opens Friday, September 7th

Opera Plaza Cinemas

San Rafael, CA

SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING ON SEPTEMBER 5th

Opens Friday, September 7th

Smith Rafael Film Center

Ann Arbor, MI

Opens Friday, September 14th

Michigan Theater

Indianapolis, IN

Opens Friday, September 14th

Keystone Art Cinema 7

Kansas City, MO

Opens Friday, September 14th

Tivoli Cinemas

Minneapolis, MN

Opens Friday, September 14th

Uptown Theatre

Cambridge, MA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Kendall Square Cinema

Buffalo, NY

Opens Friday, September 14th

North Park Theatre

Philadelphia, PA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Ritz at the Bourse

Washington, DC

Opens Friday, September 14th

E Street Cinema

Atlanta, GA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Midtown Art Cinemas 8

Austin, TX

Opens Friday, September 14th

Violet Crown Cinemas Austin

Austin, TX

Opens Friday, September 14th

Sky Cinemas Dripping Springs

Glendale, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Laemmle Glendale

Claremont, CA

Opens Friday, September 21st

Claremont 5

San Diego, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Ken Cinema

Palm Desert, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Tristone Cinemas Palm Desert 10

Scottsdale, AZ

Opens Friday, September 14th

Shea 14

Seattle, WA

Opens Friday, September 14th

SIFF Cinema Uptown

Palo Alto, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Aquarius 2

Alameda, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Alameda Stadium 8

Petaluma, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Boulevard 14 Cinemas

Santa Rosa, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Summerfield Cinemas 5

Folsom, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

Palladio 16

Monterey, CA

Opens Friday, September 14th

OSIO Plaza Cinema

Columbus, OH

Opens Friday, September 21st

Gateway Film Center

Grand Rapids, MI

Opens Friday, September 21st

Celebration Cinema Woodland 14

Hanover, MA

Opens Friday, September 21st

Hanover Mall 10

Portsmouth, NH

Opens Friday, September 21st

Music Hall

Rockland, ME

Opens Friday, September 21st

Strand Cinema 2

York, PA

Opens Friday, September 21st

SMALL STAR Art House

Charlottesville, VA

Opens Friday, September 21st

Violet Crown Charlottesville

Winston-Salem, NC

Opens Friday, September 21st

Aperture Cinema

Fort Worth, TX

Opens Friday, September 21st

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Coral Gables, FL

Opens Friday, September 21st

Cosford Cinema

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Opens Friday, September 21st

Gateway 4

Albuquerque, NM

Opens Friday, September 21st

Guild Cinema

Santa Fe, NM

Opens Friday, September 21st

Violet Crown Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM

Opens Friday, September 21st

CCA Cinematheque

Santa Fe, NM

Opens Friday, September 21st

The Screen

Hollywood, CA

Opens Friday, September 21st

Arena CineLounge – Sunset

Camas, WA

Opens Friday, September 21st

Liberty Theatre

Spokane, WA

Opens Friday, September 21st

Magic Lantern Theatre

Homer, AK

Opens Friday, September 21st

Homer Family Theater

Boise, ID

Opens Friday, September 21st

The Flicks

Anchorage, AK

Opens Friday, September 24th

Bear Tooth Theatre

Chicago, IL

Opens Friday, September 28th

Music Box Theatre

Cleveland Heights, OH

Opens Friday, September 28th

Cedar Lee Theatres

Katy, TX

Opens Friday, September 28th

Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra

San Antonio, TX

Opens Friday, September 28th

Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro

El Paso, TX

Opens Friday, September 28th

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Montecillo

Lubbock, TX

Opens Friday, September 28th

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Lubbock

The Villages, FL

Opens Friday, September 28th

Rialto 8

Denver, CO

Opens Friday, September 28th

Chez Artiste

Sedona, AZ

Opens Friday, September 28th

Mary D. Fisher Theatre

Eugene, OR

Opens Friday, September 28th

Bijou Art Cinema

Tacoma, WA

Opens Friday, September 28th

Grand Cinema – Tacoma

Bellingham, WA

Opens Friday, September 28th

PFC’s Limelight Cinema

Wenatchee, WA

Opens Friday, September 28th

Gateway Cinema

Port Townsend, WA

Opens Friday, September 28th

Rose Theatre 3

Modesto, CA

Opens Friday, September 28th

State Theatre of Modesto

Ashland, OR

Opens Friday, September 28th

Varsity Theatre

Salt Lake City, UT

Opens Friday, September 28th

Broadway Centre Cinemas

Tampa, FL

Opens Saturday, September 29th

Tampa Theatre

Boulder, CO

Opens Tuesday, October 2nd

Boedecker Theater – Dairy Center for the Arts

Wilmette, IL

Opens Friday, October 5th

Wilmette Theatres

Waterville, ME

Opens Friday, October 5th

Railroad Square Cinema 3

Pelham, NY

Opens Friday, October 5th

The Picture House

San Luis Obispo, CA

Opens Friday, October 5th

Palm Theatre

Olympia, WA

Opens Friday, October 5th

Capitol Theatre (Olympia Film Society)

Helena, MT

Opens Friday, October 5th

Myrna Loy Center

Hanover, NH

Opens Sunday, October 7th

Hopkins Film Center

Norfolk, VA

Opens Wednesday, October 10th

Naro Expanded Cinema

Pittsfield, MA

Opens Friday, October 12th

Little Cinema / Berkshire Museum

Tallahassee, FL

Opens Friday, October 19th

Tallahassee Film Society @ All Saints Cinema

Delray Beach, FL

Opens Friday, October 19th

Movies of Delray 5

Lake Worth, FL

Opens Friday, October 19th

Movies of Lake Worth

Milwaukee, WI

Opens Saturday, October 20th

Milwaukee Film Festival

Milwaukee, WI

Opens Friday, November 2nd

Oriental Theatre

Fairhope, AL

Saturday, November 10th

Fairhope Film Festival

Toronto, ON

Opens Friday, December 21st

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

past film festival screenings

Location

Dates

Theater

Website

Boulder Film Festival

Saturday, February 24, 2018, 4:30 pm
Sunday, February 25, 2018, 12:00 pm
Sunday, February 25, 2018, 4:30 pm

Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium
Boulder High
eTown Hall

Cinequest

Sat, Mar 3 4:30 PM
Sun, Mar 4 3:45 PM
Fri, Mar 9 7:15 PM

California Theatre, San Jose
Century 20 Redwood City – Screen 2
Hammer Theatre SJ

Omaha Film Festival

Mar 09, 2018 8:15 PM

Village Pointe Cinema

Gasparilla International Film Festival

Mar 24, 2018 5:15 PM

Cleveland International Film Festival

Thursday, April 05, 2018 at 2:35 PM

Friday, April 06, 2018 at 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 07, 2018 at 9:30 AM

Tower City Cinemas

San Francisco International Film Festival

April 7, 2018 11:30 AM

Victoria Theatre

Phoenix Film Festival

Saturday, April 7 9:00 am

Wednesday, April 11 7:05 pm

American Documentary Film Festival

Apr. 10, 11:00 am

Camelot Theatres, Theatre 2

FREEP Film Festival Detroit

3 p.m. Sat., April 14

Noon Sun., April 15

Emagine Novi

Community Arts Auditorium, Wayne State University

Hawaii International Film Festival

Saturday, April 14, 2018
6:30 PM

Sunday, April 15, 2018
12:30 PM

Dole Cannery C

Dole A

Louisiana International Film Festival

April 22 @ 12:15 pm

Cinemark at Perkins Rowe

The Newport Beach Film Festival

Sunday, April 29th, at 11:45 am

Monday, April 30th, at 3:15 p.m

The Triangle 6

Hot Docs Canadian Documentary Film Festival

Wed, May 2 at 9pm
Fri, May 4 at 1pm

Sun, May 6 at 3:15pm

Doclands

Sun, May 6 12:00 PM

Sun, May 6 4:45 PM

Rafael 1

Rafael 2

Seattle International Film Festival

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018
4:30pm

MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2018
7pm

Majestic Bay

AMC Pacific Place 

AFI Docs

Friday, June 15th, 2018, 4:30 pm
Saturday, June 16th, 2018, 8:15 pm

Landmark E Street – Theater 6
AFI Silver – Theater 2

Nantucket Film Festival

Wed, Jun 20, 2018 1:00 PM

Thu, Jun 21, 2018 10:00 AM

Dreamland

Maine International Film Festival

Sunday, July 15, 6:30 pm

Friday, July 20, 3:30 pm

Railroad Square Cinema

Gateway Film Center Festival

Saturday, August 11th

Gateway Film Center
1550 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43201

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Thursday, August 18th

LACMA
Bing Theatre
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Rooftop Films

Thursday, August 23rd 8:00pm

FORT GREENE PARK
Washington Park St, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Dana Nachman
(Director / Writer / Producer)

Dana Nachman is an award-winning filmmaker of both fiction and documentary films. Nachman’s 2018 feature documentary Pick of the Litter was sold within 48 hours of its premiere at the Slamdance festival and will be released later this year by IFC’s Sundance Selects label.

Nachman’s 2015 film “Batkid Begins” was bought and distributed by Warner Bros./New Line Cinema. Previously she wrote, directed and produced the documentaries “Witch Hunt,” which was executive produced by Sean Penn and premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival; “Love Hate Love,” which premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival; and “The Human Experiment,” which screened at the Mill Valley and IDFA Film Festivals. She has won a number of awards over the course of her career, including three regional Emmy Awards, The Edward R. Murrow Award, and dozens of Jury and Audience Awards at film festivals.

Nachman’s films have also been seen on various television networks, including MSNBC, The Oprah Winfrey Network and PBS.

In 2017 Nachman was chosen to participate in the American Film Showcase where she traveled as a US envoy with the State Department as a part of this prestigious film diplomacy program.

Born and raised in New York, Nachman graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with a dual degree in Middle Eastern Studies and International Relations. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree from NYU in Broadcast Journalism.

Nachman is currently on the film festival circuit with three films. In addition to “Pick of the Litter” she is also screening her first two short films. The documentary short “Washed Away” is about a man whose only relief from excruciating chronic pain is to make magnificent sand mandalas that are swept away by the tide hours later. “The Final Show” is Nachman’s first foray into fiction filmmaking and stars Marion Ross who plays a woman who has died at the breakfast table and gets catapulted into The Between where she has to quickly decide which of her loves to take along to eternity. The film has won several audience awards at festivals.

In an effort to showcase strong female protagonists, Nachman is working on a trilogy of romantic comedies. Each short will have a female of a different generation as the lead. Nachman has finished “The Final Show” first which features an elderly woman. In the coming months she will shoot “Hook Up 2.0” and later in 2018 will shoot the third part of the trilogy, which will focus on a middle-aged heroine.

Don Hardy
Director/Producer/
Cinematographer/Editor

Don Hardy is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and storyteller. Don’s new film, Pick of the Litter, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2018 and was purchased by IFC Films/Sundance Selects for theatrical distribution.

Currently, Don is in production on two new feature documentaries: A Band Called Failure about the influential 90’s rock band, Failure and Camp Penn which tells the story of the birth and growth of Sean Penn’s aid organization J/P HRO after a catastrophic earthquake shook Haiti in 2010.

Don’s film, Theory of Obscurity, about the legendary music and art collective known as The Residents, premiered at SXSW in 2015 and was released theatrically by Film Movement in April of 2016.

In addition to his extensive film work, Don also creates high-end brand films for a variety of companies and nonprofits. His work in this realm is as varied as his film work: From Olympic hopefuls to people struggling to survive in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Haiti, Don strives to connect viewers to stories through emotion and humanity. Clients like Adidas, Cisco, LinkedIn, J/P HRO, and Bay Area Music Project choose to work with Don because of his sensitive storytelling approach.

Over the years, he has won numerous awards for his films, photography, and editing including 6 regional Emmys, 3 Edward R. Murrow Awards, 7 Associated Press Awards, the prestigious San Francisco Bay Area Photographer of the Year Award and more than 15 National Press Photographer Association Awards.

Don’s film The Human Experiment was released in theaters by Area 23a and on VOD by FilmBuff in the spring of 2015. Narrated and executive produced by Oscar® winner Sean Penn, the film lifts the veil on the shocking reality that thousands of untested chemicals are in our everyday products, our homes and inside of us.

Don also served as Director of Photography on Batkid Begins, which premiered at Slamdance in early 2015. Batkid Begins was released by Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema in June 2015.

In 2011, Don’s film, Love Hate Love, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film won several film festival awards and had its US broadcast premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2012.

His first film, Witch Hunt, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008 and was broadcast on MSNBC.