"The Cove" Wins Academy Award for Best Documentary

"The Cove," a thriller-cum-documentary that unmasked the secret annual killing of hundreds of dolphins in a small Japanese fishing village, took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Sunday night during the 82nd annual ceremony at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. 

The film, which utilized cloak-and-dagger storytelling techniques more akin to a spy thriller than a documentary, has already won numerous awards at film festivals, and has been screened in fifteen different countries.

On stage to accept the award with Director Louis Psihoyos and Producers Fisher Stevens and Paula DuPre Presman, activist Ric O'Barry unfurled a sign that encouraged viewers to join the film's text message social action campaign. 

Camera's quickly cut away from from the sign, but O'Barry was unapologetic about his move.

"Winning the Oscar is an amazing honor, and it does have a real impact in Japan," O'Barry said after the ceremony.  "But so few people have seen this film, and let's be honest, with the exception of the biggest stars, most people don't listen to the speeches.  I wanted people watching to know that they can take action to help end this terrible slaughter."  

The text message campaign is designed to send a real-time petition to the Japanese Prime Minister, the Japanese Ambassador in Washington, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, urging them to help end dolphin killing in Japan.

Psihoyos, a photographer for National Geographic, directed a film that highlights the work of a group of activists -- including O'Barry --  who struggle to gain access to a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan where thousands of dolphins are slaughtered each year in an annual hunting ritual. 

The film also exposed the dangerous levels of mercury in dolphin meat sold at grocery stores and served in schools in Japan. 

Japan itself will soon be added to the list of overseas markets for the Oscar winner, with a limited run of "The Cove" planned for May or June of this year. Earlier screenings had been planned, only to be cancelled following protests from local officials in Taiji.

Participant Media – the parent company of TakePart.com – was responsible for the Social Action Campaign for "The Cove."