Global entertainment powerhouse Vulcan Productions will join forces with Terra Mater Film Studios to produce IVORY RISING, a powerful feature documentary which puts the war against ivory poaching and trafficking firmly into the spotlight.
The production of IVORY RISING marks the first alliance between Terra Mater Film Studios, the cinema brand of Red Bull, and Vulcan Productions, created by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, which are both committed to making social and environmentally conscious films that drive real, measureable change.
Acclaimed filmmakers (who cannot be named for security reasons) are currently in production on IVORY RISING, filming undercover with the support of NGO’s and government agencies across Africa, to capture astonishing new evidence which highlights the darkest side of the ivory trade. The film will raise awareness of the ivory trade, its connections to terrorism and the imminent threat of extinction to the African elephant.
“We have already seen early footage from the undercover operations and we know that we have a ground-breaking film in the making.” said CEO of Terra Mater, Walter Köhler. “It is therefore marvelous to have Vulcan Productions as our ally, as they bring not only a passion for the cause but a global reach to raise awareness. We think the union of our two forces behind this project will drive an extraordinary film to have an equally extraordinary impact. It is our absolute intention to see the trade of ivory banned and the elephant saved from extinction.”
General Manager and Creative Director of Vulcan Productions, Carole Tomko, states, “Vulcan Productions has a deep commitment to protecting endangered species, and our founder Paul G. Allen has always been especially concerned about the survival the African elephant. The filmmakers have achieved unprecedented access to stories that track the ivory trade. Driving awareness and disrupting ivory poaching operations in Africa is critical to both Vulcan and Terra Mater. We are truly honored to work Terra Mater, and with the brave filmmakers in the field who are risking their own safety to change the poaching game on the ground in order to protect these beautiful creatures.”
Terra Mater Film Studios will commence international sales for IVORY RISING at the Cannes Film Market.
About Vulcan Productions
Founded by philanthropist, entrepreneur and Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and his sister Jody Allen, Vulcan Productions produces compelling feature films, television series, specials, digital content and outreach initiatives designed to inspire people to take action on the critical issues of our time. Vulcan Productions is committed to supporting projects of significance that ignite progress and motivate audiences to generate measurable impact on the world. The new documentary Racing Extinction premiered to great acclaim at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and as part of the organization’s philanthropic mission to protect oceans and wildlife, Vulcan Productions is currently producing an innovative outreach campaign for the film that drives awareness around carbon emissions, ocean health and mass species extinction. As part of a comprehensive relief campaign to stop the spread of Ebola, Vulcan Productions produced the #ISurvivedEbola, Unseen Enemy and Body Team 12, which won the Tribeca Film Festival award for Best Documentary Short. Together with Morgan Spurlock’s Cinelan, Vulcan Productions produced We The Economy, a digital film series designed to deepen public understanding of the U.S. economy, which won the Webby Award. Other awards garnered by Vulcan Productions projects include the George Foster Peabody Award, the Emmy Award, the Grammy Award, Wildscreen Panda Award and the Sheffield Doc/Fest Green Award. Acclaimed films and series from the Vulcan Productions group also include Girl Rising, Success at the Core, Hard Candy and The Blues.
About Terra Mater Film Studios
Terra Mater Film Studios launched in April 2014 and is based in Austria. It is a division of Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH, part of the Red Bull group.
Terra Mater Film Studios has three film slates which define its output:
Terra Magna – Documentaries on the big screen
Wild Drama – Movies where nature takes a role
Real Fear – Films inspired by real events, fearlessly told
