Factual

Off the Fence has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Crime or Rescue, a new 90-minute documentary from SLAY director Rebecca Loviconi that blends true crime, activism and romance. Scheduled for delivery in late 2026, the feature follows animal rights activists with exclusive real-time access as they risk prison to rescue animals from testing facilities and factory farms. During filming, two of the movement's leading figures unexpectedly fall in love, giving the documentary an unusual mix of courtroom drama, moral debate and personal storytelling.

The film is directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker and photojournalist Rebecca Loviconi, and produced by Oscar- and BAFTA-winning producer Ellen Windemuth (My Octopus Teacher) alongside Jay Karandikar (Humans and Other Animals, SLAY). Loviconi said: “For years I followed people who risk prison to save animals— and somewhere along the way, I watched two of them fall in love. Crime or Rescue is the most urgent, and the most human story I have ever told about love, inspiration and courage.’
The documentary follows the aftermath of the March 2026 open rescue at Ridglan, a Wisconsin beagle breeding facility, where activists removed 22 dogs, leading to multiple arrests. Weeks later, around 2,000 people returned to rescue the remaining animals, prompting international media attention and ultimately contributing to the facility's permanent closure.

At the center of the story are lawyer Wayne Hsiung and activist Rose Patterson, whose relationship developed during production. The couple later married and adopted one of the rescued beagles, while Hsiung's legal campaign continues to challenge the boundaries of animal rescue activism. Bo Stehmeier, Off the Fence, said: "This is a major coup for us and a blueprint for the future of impact filmmaking—high-stakes stories that entertain, engage and drive real-world action while the mission is still unfolding. Crime or Rescue has all the emotional and narrative hooks to compete with premium crime and thriller content, while offering audiences the rare opportunity to help shape a real-world outcome. Rooted in a headline-making true story and backed by an authentic A-list ambassador with a global following, the film comes with a built-in audience and the reach to turn awareness into action. Off The Fence will be taking the project to market in search of broadcast and platform partners who want to align with a truly exceptional opportunity—one that combines commercial appeal, global audience engagement and measurable real-world impact."

Musician and longtime animal rights advocate Moby serves as executive producer and provides the film's soundtrack. He said: "Music is what I love, but working on animal rights is my life’s work. Please don’t give up hope —this film is proof that your courage matters’.