Dorothy Bahna and Jon Ayers (Executive Producers), Joe Pontecorvo (Producer, Director, Writer, Cinematographer), Jeff Hogan (Producer, Cinematographer), Mark Elbroch (Writer, Narrator), Billy McMillin (Supervising Editor), Brad Allgood (Editor), Judson Crane (Composer), Jason Devore (Sound Design and Mix), Nimmida Pontecorvo (Location Sound, Additional Camera), Jesse Wippert and Matt Mahan (Additional Camera) | 2025 | 100 min.
2026 Official Selection
Heart of a Lion opens a rare window into the hidden lives of an elusive predator through the story of two mountain lion mothers—and the renowned biologist, Mark Elbroch, whose groundbreaking work brings us closer to understanding them. Filmed over a decade in some of the wildest landscapes of the American West, Heart of a Lion offers an intimate, immersive portrait of family, survival, and the fragile connections that bind people and wildlife together.
Joe Pontecorvo is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker who has produced and directed more than fifteen documentaries for PBS, National Geographic, and the BBC. His credits include Snow Monkeys (winner of two Emmy Awards, narrated by Liam Neeson), Yosemite (nominated for three Emmys), and a recent two-part PBS/Terra Mater Factual Studios series narrated by Uma Thurman. Rooted in his love for wild spaces, Joe’s films blend cinematic beauty with urgent conservation stories, inspiring audiences to see the natural world with empathy and responsibility.
Jeff Hogan is an Emmy-winning wildlife cinematographer with over 30 years of experience. Driven by a passion for telling intimate animal stories, he spent more than a decade following the legendary mountain lion F61 and her extended family in Wyoming’s Tetons—building one of the most remarkable visual records of these elusive predators ever filmed. As cinematographer, his work on Wild Yellowstone for National Geographic earned him an Emmy, with additional nominations for PBS’ Animal Homes and American Beavers.
Dr. Mark Elbroch is the preeminent mountain lion biologist and a leading authority on mountain-lion behavior and ecology. As head of Panthera’s Puma Program, his pioneering research has reshaped scientific understanding of these elusive cats, revealing their complex social lives and critical role in healthy ecosystems. His acclaimed book The Cougar Conundrum—the inspiration for Heart of a Lion—challenges long-held misconceptions and reframes cougars as intelligent, resilient, and essential to the landscapes they inhabit. A Senior Tracker and recipient of honors including the Craighead Conservation Award and a Switzer Fellowship, Mark’s work continues to guide modern mountain-lion conservation.
