Movies that Matter | Sentient

What happens behind the closed doors of laboratories where experiments are conducted on primates? Sentient investigates not only what happens to the animals inside, but also how this work affects the people carrying it out.

At the centre of the film is Dr Lisa Jones-Engel. She spent thirty years working as a primatologist, studying monkeys in laboratories and in the field. Her experiences eventually led her to the other side of the debate. Today, she advocates for animal welfare and searches for alternatives to animal testing.

Director Tony Jones speaks to researchers, former laboratory workers and others involved in animal experimentation around the world. Some have been traumatised by what they witnessed and did inside laboratories. The film also gives a voice to scientists who consider animal testing necessary for medical progress. The result is an unsettling and complex portrait of a practice that largely remains hidden from the public.

Combining testimony, scientific research and footage from highly secured laboratories, Sentient poses a question without an easy answer. If animal testing can help save human lives, does that mean we have the right to carry it out?

Sentient premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and screened at Movies that Matter in 2026. Natlab presents the film as part of Movies that Matter On Tour. The evening begins with an introduction in English, followed by an English-language discussion exploring the questions raised by the documentary. Guests will be announced later.

Please note: the film contains explicit and potentially distressing footage of laboratory animals and animal testing.