Director Victoria Stone has worked in Africa for over 30 years telling wildlife stories that have been shown in more than 140 countries with audiences in excess of 600 million. Her previous film, “The Queen of Trees,” won a Peabody and a United Nations Award.

“The Elephant Queen” will begin screening at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8. The film is co-directed by Mark Deeble.

W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.

VS: It’s a love story about a mother’s love for her family and what she will do to protect them. It stars Athena, an elephant matriarch who has to become the ultimate leading lady as she is forced to lead her family out from their home and set off on an epic journey across the African savanna. It is a tale of love, loss, and coming home.

W&H: What drew you to this story?

VS: I have always been fascinated by elephants. They have the same emotions as us. If you are around them for long enough you get to thinking that you understand their thoughts, but then they do things that can utterly surprise you.

Their society is based on female friendship, and the most revered in their communities are the elders. The elders are the wisest, the most experienced, and have the most authority. The way elephants raise their calves, deal with sloppy teenagers, and mourn their dead is all so familiar to us. I wanted to tell the story of an extraordinary matriarch we got to know by trying to get under thick, wrinkled skin and behind her golden eyes.

I love the way that the elephant family’s role in the wild is so central to the circle of life. The elephants are the stars of the film, but they are supported by an outstanding cast of other creatures, whose interactions with the elephant family provide the comedy in the film.

By combining an epic tale with the supporting cast, I saw an opportunity to tell an inspiring story from the wild that embodied elements of “The Lion King,” “March of the Penguins,” and “Shrek.”

W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?

VS: I want people to think, “I love elephants, and I cannot believe they are just like us!” I want people to care and be moved to find out more about elephants and how they might help them. Viewers will hopefully realize how important they are, and why we simply cannot allow them to disappear from our planet within the next generation.

W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?

VS: At times, we had huge practical challenges. We had to move locations because elephants that we knew and loved were being killed by poachers. I think the biggest challenge was retaining the original vision for the film while working on every aspect of it solidly for eight years — from raising the first dollar to its world premiere in Toronto.

W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.

VS: The film has been like a snowball. We started really small, just my co-director Mark and I and a single equity investor, but we shared a vision. As we began to see results and realize the film’s potential, we attracted other crew members and investors. In a way, our small team became an extended family living in the bush — just like Athena’s.

When experienced producer Lucinda Englehart joined and brought her skills to the film, it felt like we had a strong female producing team befitting of our subject. Crew and investors alike were united in their passion for a story from the wild that would inspire people to fall in love with elephants.

W&H: What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

VS: I love telling stories. I cannot think of a better way to spend my life than exploring the wild in order to understand the natural world and share new and unusual stories that reflect the circle of life.

W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?

VS: The best advice: “Don’t give up hope, however difficult something seems.”

The worst advice: “You can’t do it that way. It’s never been done before.”

W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?

VS: Dream, trust your instincts, hone your skills, and work really hard. Support other women and retain dignity. Make sure you work with emotionally sophisticated men. Stay true to your inner feelings about things even in a situation dominated by men. Influence others by example.

W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.

VS: “The Piano,” directed by Jane Campion, because it was the first time I was blown away by the vision of a female director.

W&H: Hollywood and the global film industry are in the midst of undergoing a major transformation. What differences have you noticed since the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements launched?

VS: Women are finding it easier to talk about gender-biased issues. It’s enabling women to have more confidence and to take pride in their perspective on life, even when outnumbered by men in the workplace.

Ultimately, I hope it will encourage more and more women to attain the skills needed to share their vision and stories through film.