Press release by ben.moosefuel.media

 

Montreal, QC – Ben’s Animals, a heartwarming and visually rich new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Evan Beloff, will premiere June 28, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on CBC Television and CBC Gem.

The film follows Ben Lachapelle, a 23-year-old autistic artist and passionate environmentalist whose imaginative connection to animals becomes a powerful voice for change. Told through a blend of hand-drawn animation, childhood archives, vérité storytelling, and personal interviews, the documentary offers a poetic, moving, and joyful portrait of a remarkable young man.

At its core, Ben’s Animals explores creativity, identity, and how art can bridge the gap between isolation and community. It also reflects on the challenges faced by families navigating neurodivergence in a fragmented support system—offering an honest, tender look at the love between a mother and son.

Directed and co-written by Evan Beloff (Once a Nazi, Kosher Love, Daughters of the Voice), Ben’s Animals was co-written, edited and filmed by Noah Leon, his longtime collaborator who previously worked with Beloff on Just As I Am: The Shira Choir and Meet, Pray, Love: Return of the Love Rabbi.

“This isn’t just a documentary about autism,” says Beloff. “It’s about how one young man sees the world—and how much we all stand to gain by listening.”

 

Broadcast Details:

  • Premiere Date: June 28, 2025
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: CBC Television & CBC Gem
  • Duration: 44 minutes
  • Language: English (French subtitles available)

 

For media inquiries, screeners, or interviews, contact:

Evan Beloff, Director
Email: emb@onticmedia.com

Julie Chou, Ben’s mother
Email: ben.animalia@outlook.com