‘Slay’ Director Rebecca Loviconi & Off The Fence Ready “Romantic True Crime” Feature Doc About Radical Animal Activists…

EXCLUSIVE: Animal activism is all about love for other species, but once in a while it ends in love between humans, too.

That’s what Rebecca Loviconi‘s ‘genre fusion’ feature doc Crime or Rescue will reveal, as the ‘romantic true crime’ story that’s set to hit the doc market follows radical animal activists who unexpectedly fall in love during the filming.

Billed as a “real-life drama” told from a first-person perspective, the 90-minute film from European producer-distributor Loviconi’s Switzerland-based For The Animals will bring together the romance with courtroom tension and moral debate.

European producer-distributor Off The Fence has now boarded the pic and is readying it as a package for the market.

Filmmaker and photojournalist Loviconi is producing and directing, with the film expected to deliver in late 2026. She is known for 2022 doc Slay, which looked into the fashion industry to investigate the use of fur, leather and wool, greenwashing and the impact of brands using animal skins.

Ellen Windemuth, the former Off The Fence boss who was an Oscar and BAFTA winner for Neflix doc My Octopus Teacher, is producing Crime or Rescue alongside Jay Karandikar (Slay, Humans and Other Animals). Six-time Grammy-nominated musician and long-time animal rights campaigner Moby is providing the soundtrack.

The film centers on an open rescue earlier this year and subsequent court case after activists raided Ridglan, a Wisconsin beagle breeding facility. Initially, they rescued 22 dogs and 20 arrests were made, before the activists returned with 2,000 people to free every remaining canine, sparking a major media story and the eventual permanent closure of the center.

In the middle of the developments are are lawyer Wayne Hsiung and rebel Rose Patterson, who through the process of filming, fell in love, got married and adopted James, a dog rescued from the facility in March.

Off The Fence, which has distribution rights, plans to take the package out to TV broadcasters and streamers.

“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,” said Off The Fence CEO Bo Stehmeier.

“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.

Stehmeier’s sales patter will see him approaching buyers with an offer to “align with a truly exceptional opportunity – one that combines commercial appeal, global audience engagement and measurable real-world impact.”