Mother Of Chooks

A Short Documentary on chickens, and their mother.

After losing her sister, Elaine discovers a surprising new companion in a chicken named Flapper. Now, with a flock of chooks and a mission to change how people see them, she’s become a local legend, The Mother of Chooks.

(This Project is currently on it’s festival chicken run.)
- Please Email for EPK and additional screener requests. -

A poster for a film titled 'Mother of Chooks' shows four chickens sitting on a chair in a room with a blue wall. The poster includes film festival awards and a quote about roosters. Text at the bottom credits the directors Jesse Leaman and Maite Martin Samos.

“You’re going to want a chicken after seeing this”

“Pick up a chook, look in it’s eyes and tell it you love it.”

- Elaine Janes
Black and white emblem with laurel leaves surrounding text that reads "Official Selection Atlanta DOCUFest 2025".
Award certificate with black background and white laurel wreath, titled 'Jury's Citation Award' for Thomas Edison at the 2025 Film Festival.
A black and white film festival badge with the text "Official Selection DocEdge Film Festival 2025" surrounded by fern-like leaves.
Black and white emblem with laurel branches, stating 'Official Selection Hot Docs 2025, Outspoken Outstnding'.

“A gentle and caring documentary made by a lovely mother and son duo. A special little film that will make you laugh and cry in the best of ways.”

@marcvecchio - Letterboxd

“A hilarious and surprisingly touching story of a woman and her delightful chickens. If the chicken on the beach scene does not bring you joy, then you are dead inside and I cannot help you…”

@rajkokrminac - Letterboxd

Screenings.

Thursday 10th July 2025

Doc Edge Film Festival, Auckland, The Capitol Cinema, New Zealand

Get Tickets

Saturday 5th July 2025

Doc Edge Film Festival, Auckland Bridgeway Cinema 3, New Zealand

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An elderly woman with short light-brown hair smiling at a table surrounded by chickens, including a white hen and a black, white, and brown hen, inside a blue-walled room with a plant and hanging decorative items in the background.
Five fluffy chickens of various colors sitting on a blue metal surface in a room with light blue and white walls, a potted red poinsettia plant, and decorative hanging glass elements. There is a window with a security grille on the right side.
Three chickens standing on a wooden surface outdoors with person blurred in the background.
Group of five chickens of various colors standing on rocks on a beach with the ocean in the background.
An elderly woman with short brown hair wearing a peach sweater, leaning on a wooden park bench, smiling at a chicken perched on the bench in a parking lot with cars, palm trees, and a grassy hill in the background.
A woman holding a chicken at a seaside amusement park with a Ferris wheel, children playing, and colorful signage in the background.
Close-up of a chicken with a person in the background, behind yellow metal stairs.
An elderly woman with curly hair and a scarf around her neck feeding chickens in a parking lot outdoors.
People celebrating outdoors with champagne, with a chef and a woman holding a chicken, in a backyard setting.