Abraham Joffe's latest film is a meticulously crafted exposé that journeys across six years and nine countries to investigate the troubled intersection of conservation, commerce, and the global trade in polar bear fur. Following a small, fiercely determined alliance of legal experts, activists, and Indigenous voices, the film grants unprecedented access to international conferences, luxury auctions, and Arctic communities, unraveling how loopholes in wildlife law and market pressures put an iconic species at risk.

Joffe’s documentary goes beyond surface outrage, embracing forensic storytelling and vivid cinematography to reveal how organizations entrusted to protect wildlife are quietly furthering its exploitation. Carefully avoiding sensationalism, Trade Secret raises urgent questions about the price of conservation in a world where extinction has become a commodity.

With its calm intensity and commitment to uncomfortable truths, Trade Secret challenges viewers to reckon with how lines blur between protection and profit—essential watching for anyone concerned about the fault lines emerging in our relationship with the natural world.

Screening followed by audience talkback with director Abraham Joffe and journalist Costas Christ, moderated by David E. Guggenheim.