Unspoken
Bond

Shannon Dueck

An international dressage rider based in Wellington, Florida, must navigate devastating grief after losing Angel — her beloved Grand Prix horse and Olympic hopeful — to a catastrophic injury. With support from her equestrian community, her loyal dogs, and new horses that enter her life, Shannon learns that healing comes not from replacing what was lost but from honoring the bond that made it so meaningful.

Nicole Navarro

Nicole Navarro survived 18 years of addiction only to find her path to recovery through an unexpected source: foxes. After hitting rock bottom, she found purpose volunteering at a Florida Keys animal sanctuary, where a fox named Lana — a fur farm survivor — approached her with surprising trust. Nicole founded and now runs Pawsitive Beginnings, where rescued foxes serve as powerful symbols of resilience and hope for trauma survivors.

Jason Gaver

Jason Gaver returned from military service in Iraq carrying invisible wounds. Struggling with PTSD, depression, and profound loneliness after experiencing great personal loss, he felt isolated even in rooms full of people. Then came Woodrow, a service dog who doesn't just provide comfort — he fosters connection, helping Jason show up as the father his young daughter deserves.

Islander D at Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, NV

Free and open to any SuperZoo attendees · Q&A after

Cape Fear Community College — Union Station

Wilmington, NC

Hosted in partnership with Paws4People · Free and open to the public · Q&A to follow

NC State College of Veterinary Medicine

Raleigh, NC

Private event

Critter Fest — 4-Star Theater

San Francisco, CA

Presented by SF IndieFest · Also streaming online September 17–20

Critter Fest — Cinema Salem

Salem, MA

Presented by SF IndieFest · Also streaming online September 17–20

Port Townsend Film Festival

Sat, Sep 26 · 1:30 PM — American Legion · Sun, Sep 27 · 7:30 PM — Rosebud Cinema · Port Townsend, WA

Screening Magical Little Creatures — the short from Unspoken Bond about Nicole Navarro and her fox sanctuary · Also streaming online September 28 – October 4

Mystic Film Festival

The United MicroCinema, Westerly, RI

Feature documentary screening · Q&A to follow

Follow the film as it travels

More information about upcoming screenings
and opportunities to catch the film.

2026 HABRI Human Animal Bond Innovation Award

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute named Unspoken Bond a winner of its 2026 Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards in the Media category, honoring the documentary alongside KTF Films and Jackie Ducci. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Las Vegas.

The Impact DOCS Awards

Award of Excellence Special Mention
Unspoken Bond · Documentary Feature
Don Hardy (USA)

Jackie Ducci

Jackie Ducci is a nationally recognized advocate for human-animal connection. An accomplished equestrian, Jackie holds United States Dressage Federation Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, and competes in both show jumping and FEI-level dressage. She is the founder of The Human-Animal Alliance, a 501(c)(3) directly supporting programs that place the human-animal bond central to their missions.

Don Hardy

Don Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker known for powerful documentaries that blend cinematic craft with social impact. His latest films are BAR, which explores the world of elite bartending, and Linda Perry: Let It Die Here — a raw and intimate portrait of the iconic artist. In 2021, Don also directed and produced Citizen Penn, chronicling Sean Penn's humanitarian efforts in Haiti through J/P HRO (now CORE). He created and directed The Way Home, a three-season documentary series on homelessness, and co-directed Pick of the Litter, which inspired the Disney+ series of the same name.

Justin Levy

Justin Levy is an independent producer of all things documentary, ranging from features on HBO and PBS to series for Hulu, Netflix and AMC. His films have premiered at Sundance, Tribeca and SXSW, with credits including BAR, Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong, Oh Yeah!, Broadway Rising, Snowy, Well Groomed and Supergirl. He is the associate producer of 2018 Academy Award best short documentary nominee Knife Skills.

Stefanie Lindeen

Stefanie Lindeen is a project coordinator and field producer at KTF Films, combining years of experience as a studio and account manager with a strong background in visual arts. Her recent credits include The Way Home, Unspoken Bond, BAR, and Linda Perry: Let It Die Here. She co-founded Teahouse Studio, a creative space for writers and photographers, and Mabel Magazine, a print publication dedicated to telling the stories of female creatives.