Film Production Partner

Earth Touch is a multi-award-winning wildlife documentary film production company with offices in South Africa, Washington DC and London. Alongside their broadcast division, the company has an active and engaging web presence in the form of Earth Touch News Network.

Through its videos, written articles and social media, ETNN provides balanced reporting on a range of issues and stories affecting the natural world, while collaborating with scientists, journalists, photographers and partner organisations doing work in the field. It aims to build a curious, passionate community that is interested in understanding and protecting the planet’s wildlife and wild spaces.

In the past year, ETNN has received a Gold Remi at the 2015 WorldFest Houston, a Webby Honoree Award and several others in recognition of its work and for web series such as the Earth Touch Insider, which offers insights into some of the biggest issues affecting wildlife across the globe.

The Earth Touch YouTube channel has over 160,000 subscribers and receives around four million views each month.

Sarah Lustig – Producer.

I’ve always had a passion for the earth’s menagerie of extraordinary creatures, and that passion is overshadowed only by my obsession with the power of film and visual storytelling. It’s been my life-long mission to turn these two loves into a career – which is how I found myself heading into the wonderful world of wildlife documentaries.

We’re often bombarded with heartbreaking news about the planet’s wildlife, and it can be difficult to maintain hope – but there is always hope and so many amazing, awe-inspiring people fighting for our wildlife. These determined people deserve our faith that they can make a difference.

As a filmmaker, I have the opportunity to inspire people to be curious, to care, to act, and ultimately to bring about change- what an absolute privilege!

I’m excited to join the Elephants Ignite Expedition and tell the stories of organisations across Africa who are fighting to protect one of the continent’s most iconic animals: the elephant. I’m excited to meet passionate people who are dedicating their lives to this cause. And finally, I’m aching for another opportunity to sit silently, surrounded by a herd of elephants, admiring their intelligence, their impressive size and their majesty. A world without elephants is not a world that I want to live in. So we go forth, cameras in hand, to bring the world inspiring stories of the compassion, dedication and determination of a continent trying to preserve a species.

Tyrone Marcus – Video Editor and Cameraman

Was born in Durban, South Africa in 1982, and as far back as I can remember, I have always loved art. When I first discovered camera work, I realised that I had found a new kind of art – something very powerful. It’s a medium through which I can tell stories, spread messages and make people laugh or cry. Since my first job shooting a TV pilot with absolutely no experience, I knew this was the only thing I wanted to do with my life.

I have always had a passion for animals and I believe that every life is a life worth saving, from a tiny bee to an elephant in the African bush.  As a filmmaker, I have a responsibility to tell the stories of the voiceless – and the plight of the elephant, one of the most iconic animals on our planet, is a story that must be heard before it’s too late. Each off us can have a role to play in preserving our beautiful natural world. My work is my contribution.