THE PYTHON HUNT

description

Every year, the Florida government calls upon the general public to compete in an invasive python removal contest in the Everglades in an attempt to save the threatened ecosystem.

For 10 gruelling nights, an eclectic group of amateur hunters confront the dangerous terrain, nocturnal creatures, and their own desires. Meanwhile, one professional hunter leads the charge to undermine the competition, questioning what hides beneath the python mania gripping the ‘glades. The film, which had its World Premiere at SXSW, is the feature documentary debut of CUFF alum Xander Robin, who attended CUFF in 2017 for the Canadian Premiere of his first narrative feature ARE WE NOT CATS.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
SXSW 2025
Miami Film Festival 2025
Sitges Film Festival 2025
Beyond Fest 2025
Melbourne International Film Festival 2025

DIRECTOR'S BIO
Xander Robin is a filmmaker from South Florida. His debut feature film, ARE WE NOT CATS (CUFF 2017), premiered at the 73rd Venice Film Festival as the closing film of the Critics Week sidebar. His work as a director and writer has screened at film festivals across the world, including Rotterdam, Sundance, Sitges, and AFI Fest. In 2021, he directed three episodes of the HBO original series, Chillin Island, produced by the Safdie Brothers' Elara Pictures. His first documentary feature, THE PYTHON HUNT, produced by Artists Equity, premiered at SXSW 2025, where it received a Special Jury Award.