A Flaco documentary is on its way in 2026, and New Yorkers have an opportunity to gush over their favorite owl.
The team behind the forthcoming project from director Penny Lane, Sandbox Films, and HBO Documentary Films, is currently piecing together personal anecdotes, footage, and photos of the Central Park escapee who stole hearts across the city. If the feathered friend was meaningful to you, now is the time to speak up.
What to know about the Flaco documentary
Whether it’s a quick video you posted to Instagram or simply a touching tribute to the Eurasian eagle owl’s memory, New Yorkers can share what they have for potential inclusion in the film. Should your photo or anecdotes make the final cut, not only will you be honoring a very special bird, but you’ll receive an all-in $500 licensing fee and a mention in the film credits, all while remaining the legal owner of the footage, according to the documentary’s website.
Visit Flacodocumentary.com to fill out a form where you’ll be prompted to share your visuals and write your experience or memory of the owl. Anonymous submissions will be considered, but not compensated. Additionally, you can indicate if you’re interested in being interviewed for the project.
For some context, though he needs no introduction, Flaco escaped the Central Park Zoo in 2023 and wandered around NYC post-escape, charming all those in his path and making a pitstop on local apartment windowsills. Sadly, his adventures came to an end in February 2024 after colliding with a building. Upon his untimely demise, tests revealed that Flaco had feral pigeons and rats laced with poisoning in his system.
This sad news prompted support for animal conservation throughout the city, and Flaco’s Law, which according to its site, “require any new or significantly altered state buildings to incorporate bird-friendly designs, particularly in their windows.”
Flaco and his journey around the city are documented in a new book and a new exhibit at the New-York Historical Society, “The Year of Flaco,” which is on view until July 2025.
For more information on this project, or to make a submission, visit Flacodocumentary.com.