Trophy

About

Endangered African species like elephants, rhinos, and lions march closer to extinction each year. Their devastating decline is fueled by a global desire to consume and collect these majestic animals. Trophy investigates the powerhouse businesses of big game hunting, breeding, and wildlife conservation. Through the eyes of impassioned individuals who drive these industries, filmmakers Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau grapple with the complex consequences of imposing economic value on animals. What are the ethical implications of treating animals as commodities? Do breeding, farming, and hunting offer some of the few remaining options to conserve these species before it's too late?

Shaul Schwarz (Narco Cultura, 2013 Sundance Film Festival) has never been a filmmaker who sees the world in black and white. Embracing the gray areas that make for a multifaceted assessment of big game hunting and the industries that support it, Trophy will spark fierce debate as it digs deeper to examine the state of our planet and the conscience of humanity.

YEAR 2017

SECTION U.S. Doc Comp

COUNTRY U.S.A.

RUN TIME 108 min

LANGUAGE English and Afrikaans

SUBTITLES Yes with English subtitles

EMAIL laurenpeblerhaber@gmail.com

PHONE (917) 445-9435

Credits

Director
Co-Director
Producers
Executive Producers
Cinematographers
Original Music
Editors
Co Executive Producers
Associate Producer
Co Producer
Consulting Editors
Post Production Supervisor

Artist Bio

Shaul Schwarz

Shaul Schwarz is a filmmaker, award-winning photojournalist, and Reel Peak Films founder. His debut documentary, Narco Cultura, premiered at the 2013 Festival. Schwarz contributes to Time, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and CNN. He directed the Emmy Award–nominated web series A Year in Space, produced with Time's Red Border Films, and he co-directed Aida's Secrets.


Christina Clusiau

Christina Clusiau is a documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, and photojournalist based in Brooklyn. Clusiau co-founded Reel Peak Films, which specializes in documentaries, commercials, and television content with cinematic quality and journalistic integrity. Clusiau shot the Emmy Award–nominated web series A Year in Space in partnership with Time's Red Border Films, and Aida's Secrets, which premiered at Hot Docs 2016.