Flight of the Butterflies World Premiere Event

Flight of the Butterflies World Premiere Event

On September 24, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History hosted the world premiere event of SK Films’ “Flight of the Butterflies.” The 3D nature film was screened in the Johnson IMAX Theater. The movie premiere was attended by President Felipe Calderón and First Lady Margarita Zavala, as well as a variety of Mexican and U.S. officials, including Mexican Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara, Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhán, and U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

Representatives from SK Films were also in attendance, including Executive Producer Jonathan Barker, Director Mike Slee, and Co-Executive Producer Wendy MacKeigan. The principal actor, Gordon Pinsent, was also there, as well as actor Shaun Benson and actress Patricia Phillips. Catalina Aguado, the only surviving member of the original monarch sanctuary discovery team, was a featured guest. Catalina was recognized and applauded for her journey that has dawned new discoveries in monarchs, and which led to decades of fascination with the migration.

A reception in the museum’s rotunda featured small plate Mexican cuisine and live mariachi music. Light projections of butterflies danced across the high ceilings while the attendees swayed to the  traditional Mexican music. Cookies in the shape of monarchs topped off the delicious selection of Mexican dishes. 

Check out our photos of the film, interviews with the cast, the beginning of the event and the reception!