The project documents how the bird, named Happy, transformed his deformity into a signature smile, becoming a social media phenomenon. Beyond the personal narrative, the film explores broader human-animal connections, featuring stories from individuals like elephant advocate Lek Chailert and animal rescuer Zach Skow. Actor Gerard Butler, a donor to the project, described the film as an inspiring look at resilience.
Documentary Finding Happy chronicles a woman’s bond with a rescued bird
When Maria Bertrand rescued a one-day-old sparrow with a broken beak during the pandemic, she did not expect the bird to change her life. The resulting documentary, Finding Happy, captures their unlikely friendship and premieres on North American transactional VOD platforms on September 1, 2026, via Vision Films.
Directed by Bertrand and produced by Kelly King, the documentary has secured multiple festival honors, including wins at the Glendale Film Festival and the Love and Hope International Film Festival. Executive producer Tom Bergeron notes that the film serves as an antidote to modern cynicism. Alongside the release, Bertrand has authored a companion children’s book, Finding Happy the Sparrow, currently available on Amazon.
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