Global factual distributor Off the Fence has officially acquired Crime or Rescue, a gritty, 90-minute “romantic true crime” documentary that drops viewers directly into the crosshairs of radical underground activism.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker and photojournalist Rebecca Loviconi (SLAY), Crime or Rescue follows animal rights extremists as they execute high-risk break-ins at factory farms and testing facilities.
Filmed entirely in real-time and told from an intimate, first-person perspective, the documentary captures the immediate fallout of these covert operations: impending prison sentences, fierce moral debates, and escalating courtroom tension. Adding a brilliant cinematic layer to the legal stakes, two activists unexpectedly fall in love while under surveillance and facing hard time.
Crime or Rescue boasts an elite true-crime and factual pedigree, produced by Jay Karandikar (Humans and Other Animals) alongside Oscar and BAFTA winner Ellen Windemuth (My Octopus Teacher). Set against an atmospheric soundtrack by electronic music icon Moby, Crime or Rescue is slated for a late 2026 delivery, promising a tense, edge-of-your-seat look at what happens when civil disobedience triggers the full weight of the law.
The film’s soundtrack features music by Moby, the six-time Grammy-nominated musician and longtime animal rights advocate who will also act as EP on the film, explaining: “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’.
Rebecca 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 story features exclusive access to the open rescue earlier this year in March and consequent legal battle after activists raided Ridglan, a Wisconsin beagle breeding facility, rescuing 22 dogs, and triggering 20 arrests. Weeks later, they returned with 2,000 people to free every remaining dog, sparking a global media storm with the mass open rescue leading to the permanent closure of the centre. The story went viral in the US was covered extensively by CNN, Wired, The Washington Post and the Guardian.
At the heart of this legal and moral debate are lawyer Wayne Hsiung and rebel Rose Patterson who through the process of filming, fell in love, got married and adopted James, rescued from the facility in March. Hsiung’s open rescue philosophy argues that when the law fails to protect the innocent, the act of rescue is a moral, and potentially legal act. The film captures a movement at a turning point, and a love story no one saw coming.
Bo Stehmeier at 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.”
