Director Louie Psihoyos is in Tokyo for the premiere of The Cove at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). I had a chance to ask him a few questions today about the first ever screening of his film in Japan.

Carolyn Sams: How did if feel going back to Japan with an arrest warrant out for you?

Louie Psihoyos: When I got off the plane in Tokyo, there were news crews waiting for me. I kept thinking, what do they know that I don’t know?? Are there police waiting to arrest me and they want to get it on tape? But that wasn’t the case and I made it to the festival. Definitely a nail biter though.

CS: How did The Cove debut at the film festival? What was everyone’s reaction?

LP: Amazing – and scary. Everyone was in the audience - the mayor of Taiji, Private Space, Komatsu (IWC delegate), along with several suits I imagine were their lawyers. It was a tough crowd to say the least – the exact opposite of preaching to the choir. I was talking to people who were in the movie and to people who had no idea this was happening. For those who had never heard about it, they asked what they could to do help. It really gave me hope that there is a possibility for change. People were really moved, and I heard a lot of clapping.

CS:Was there any negative reaction in the theater?

LP: The mayor of Taiji actually walked out. I think he was too emotional, especially because the audience was reacting favorably to us.

CS: How did it feel to screen to people that are actually in the film?

LP: It was more difficult than making the movie. You’ve made it and now you have to look into the eyes of the people who are doing something horrible. It was honestly one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. But in the end, it was good to face down the people accusing me face to face.

CS: You actually answered questions after the movie to festival goers. How did that Q&A go?

LP: I think there’s definitely a different expectation between screening this to an audience in Japan and an American audience. Civil disobedience is not a part of their culture so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I got some great, really thoughtful questions and many people offering to help. And I also got some tough questions and there were skeptics of course. The skeptics wanted to focus on animal rights, but this isn’t just an animal rights issue. One guy asked me what scientific evidence exists that dolphins are more intelligent then any other animal – while there is plenty of documentation of this, that’s not the point and is ultimately an unwinnable argument.

It’s a human health issue also. And I wanted everyone in the theater to understand that. It’s a human rights film because people need to know that the levels of mercury is off-the-charts toxic. How can anyone argue that eating dolphins is the same as eating cows – dolphins are not safe for human consumption. I mean kids especially should not be eating this meat. I feel like, as a father, I’m giving people the information that the government isn’t.

CS: Is it true you will donate profits from distribution in Japan to the town of Taiji?

LP: Yes, I want people there to know this movie is a love letter and that we don’t want to see the city destroyed over this. We believe they can actually thrive. Any of the profits earned by OPS here in Japan will go to Taiji if they agree to stop the slaughter and using dolphins as entertainment. More money has been made in whale watching than whale hunting, so hopefully this is a way forward for the dolphin hunters.

CS: There has been a lot of controversy over film festival’s decision to have The Cove. Did you feel any of that over the last few days?

LP: It was a very gutsy thing for them to do to show the film. There was enormous pressure on them to pull it and it’s remarkable that they kept it. That said, I definitely felt like the red headed stepchild at the party. They couldn’t close the green carpet fast enough when they saw me coming! I also heard reports of news crews and cameras being chased away.

CS: Where are you off to now?

LP: Well, I have to still get out of Japan. I still wonder if I’ll be arrested, but then again if they wanted to they would have done it by now. Once I head back to the States, I’ll be going to the Environmental Media Association Awards, where The Cove has been nominated for best documentary. This isn’t over yet and and I’m hopeful that the attention from events like this will keep it in the news and ultimately keep the pressure on.