Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants

Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants is a Canadian drama film, written and directed by Bryce Hodgson and released in 2025.^[1] The film stars Hunter Dillon and Kevin Nguyen as Alex and Trevor, two troubled teens who escape from a youth detention centre while high on LSD, and then steal a van and set off on a road trip with the goal of setting up their own alternative youth commune in the forest.^[2]

Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants
Directed by	Bryce Hodgson
Written by	Bryce Hodgson
Produced by	Caitlyn Sponheimer Katia Shannon
Starring	Hunter Dillon Kevin Nguyen Tony Nappo
Cinematography	Robert Mentov
Edited by	Bryce Hodgson Ian Christison
Music by	Lou Tides
Production companies	CouKuma Productions Harrington Studio
Release date	October 4, 2025 (2025-10-04) (VIFF)
Running time	91 minutes
Country	Canada
Language	English

The cast also includes Tony Nappo, Elizabeth Saunders, Ryan McDonald, Fred Nguyen Khan, Kimberly Ha and Jasmine Kar in supporting roles.

Production

The film, Hodgson's directorial debut, entered production in 2023, with shooting in and around Toronto, Ontario.^[3]

Distribution

The film received a private industry screening in the Locarno Pro program at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in August 2025,^[2] where it won the Music Library &SFX/Acorde Award granting it €45,000 in music supervision services.^[4]

It is slated to have its official world premiere at the 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival.^[5]