Trade Secret screens at CITES 2025

Last night in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, we held what was undoubtedly the most important screening Trade Secret has ever had - and perhaps ever will have.

At the Hotel Minyon, where many of the 4,000 delegates attending the 20th Meeting of the Parties to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) are staying, we screened the film to a truly remarkable audience: CITES delegates, representatives from the European Union, Environmental-NGO leaders, conservation consultants – and even a handful of individuals representing trophy-hunting interests.

At the end of the screening, after around 30 seconds of silence, the film received a standing ovation (from almost everyone present), and what followed was the most engaged and impassioned Q&A we’ve had for the film.

Adam Cruise and I spoke back and forth with delegates for more than 40 minutes. Incredibly, even the two attendees representing trophy-hunting interests praised the film’s storytelling and emotional power -acknowledging that despite differing perspectives, more films like this are urgently needed.

For the first time in years, we felt the plight of the polar bear in respect to its international commercial trade may be coming back on the table. As you know, polar bears are not on this year’s CITES agenda, despite their ever-worsening outlook. Yet last night, key decision-makers approached us afterwards to discuss further screenings, internal briefings, and ways Trade Secret could help provoke meaningful dialogue ahead of the next Meeting of the Parties in 2028.

I think we may be at a real turning point – the first small but significant step toward a future proposal to uplist polar bears under CITES, a move that would offer them far greater international protection.

I want to express my deepest thanks to every one of you who supported this film. Your generosity is enabling us to bring Trade Secret to rooms like this  - in front of the people who can actually change the fate of a species.

Screenings around the world have been meaningful - but last night was advocacy at its most direct and impactful. We will continue to push – not just for polar bears, but for greater scrutiny of international wildlife trade when it comes to endangered species.

Thank you, sincerely, for standing with us. Your belief in this project is helping to drive real-world change.

Warmest regards,

Abraham