Vulcan Productions


Vulcan Productions produced documentary films, television programming and virtual reality experiences that drove awareness around environmental and social issues. The company was founded in 1997 by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and his sister Jody Allen. It closed in 2021.
The company financed and co-produced films with directors such as Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford. Its films and TV series had aired on video on-demand services like Netflix, HBO and Hulu and across networks like The Discovery Channel and National Geographic. Films produced by Vulcan Productions won Peabody Awards and received Academy Award nominations. The company focused on raising awareness on issues like mental health, girl's education, veterans, parenting, wildlife conservation, ocean health, climate change and modern-day slavery.
𝕏 vulcaninc

History

Vulcan Productions began under the name "Clear Blue Sky Productions" and received its first critical success with the feature film Titus. The company continued to produce feature films including Far From Heaven, ''Where God Left His Shoes, and Hard Candy. With a name change in 2011, the then-Vulcan Productions shifted its measure of success from box office numbers and critical ratings to driving social impact and world change. The company exclusively produced Social impact entertainment with a focus on topics ranging from wildlife and conservation, global health, contemporary social issues, science, technology, history and exploration.
As part of the larger Vulcan Inc. organization, Vulcan Productions’ mission was to “change minds and ignite action through the power of storytelling.”
On May 27, 2020 Vulcan Inc. announced that Vulcan Productions would be shutdown in 2021 citing the "economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis" as well as "the ongoing transition after Paul Allen's passing in 2018." A few weeks after winning top honors at the Sundance Film Festival for Summer of Soul,'' Vulcan Productions ceased operations.

Films

Where God Left His Shoes
  • Winner – The Humanitas Prize: 2008 Best Sundance Feature Film
  • 2008 Imagen Awards
  • * Nominated - Best Film
  • * Nominated - Best Actor - John Leguizamo
  • * Nominated - Best Supporting Actor - David Castro
  • * Winner - Best Supporting Actress - Leonor Varela
Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas
  • 2006 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival
  • * Best Actress - Olivia Wilde
Hard Candy (film)
Coastlines
Far from Heaven
The Safety of Objects
The Luzhin Defence
Titus
''Men with Guns''