The Python Hunt opens in US theaters after SXSW win
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- The Python Hunt – Xander Robin’s documentary, which premiered at SXSW and won a Special Jury Prize, now opens in U.S. theaters through Oscilloscope Laboratories.
- Florida Python Challenge – The state‑run, 10‑day annual cull invites amateur hunters to capture Burmese pythons, offering cash prizes for the most snakes taken.
- Burmese pythons – An invasive species introduced via the pet trade, possibly released after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, now estimated at 50,000‑500,000 in the Everglades.
- Anne Stratton – An 82‑year‑old widow with no hunting experience who joins the Challenge to “shank a python” despite her age.
- Madison Oliveira – A former Marine who competes in the Challenge, treating the captured snakes with “pain‑free euthanasia” and displaying a disciplined approach.
Why it matters: Florida’s wildlife agencies gain heightened public support and funding for the python cull, while the invasive pythons continue to threaten native species; the documentary’s theater run amplifies the issue and drives ticket revenue for Oscilloscope.
