In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, elephants are in crisis: Years of civil war and ivory poaching have left them frightened and hostile toward humans. In a new Emmy-nominated National Geographic Television film, "War Elephants," two of the world’s foremost elephant researcher work to build trust and retrain the animals away from their violent behavior.

National Geographic executive producer of "War Elephants" David Hamlin '82 is on hand for the screening, which is followed by a panel discussion with Environmental Studies Professors Ross Virginia and Jack Shepherd.

David Hamlin is a multiple Emmy Award winning filmmaker and Executive Producer. He’s responsible for over 100 award-winning Specials, Series and New Media projects for the National Geographic Channel, NBC, PBS, other broadcasters and NGO’s. Hamlin has travelled the world on numerous expeditions and TV productions. He honed his storytelling skills while whitewater kayaking, mountain climbing and filming everywhere from the Congo Basin to the Karakoram to the Amazon to the Arctic. Since joining National Geographic in 1996, his work has focused on exploration, natural history and wildlife and habitat conservation.

Hamlin began his unorthodox career path as a professional puppeteer. While at Dartmouth College, he received several fellowships including teaching 2nd Grade in Jersey City, NJ and writing scripts for “Sesame Street.” After college, he was asked to join a Ledyard Canoe Club and National Geographic kayaking expedition circumnavigating the South Korean peninsula, a new career was born as a filmmaker. Hamlin produced his first national broadcast stories for NBC’s coverage of the Seoul Olympics.

Since 1996, Hamlin has worked at the National Geographic Society. He’s been awarded 2 National Emmys, 6 Emmy nominations and numerous festival wins. His film “War Elephants” is currently nominated for the Best Nature Program Emmy. In 2011, Hamlin led the 3 year, 100+ person team producing National Geographic’s most ambitious TV Series in history, “Great Migrations.”