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.

History
Vulcan Productions began under the name "Clear Blue Sky Productions" and received its first critical success with the feature film Titus (1999). 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)
 * 2006 Malaga Film Festival
 * Best Film
 * Best Director - David Slade
 * Best Actress - Elliot Page
 * Best Cinematographer - Jo Willems
 * 2005 Sitges Film Festival
 * Best Motion Picture
 * Best Screenplay
 * Audience Award for Best Motion Picture

Coastlines

Far from Heaven
 * 75th Annual Academy Award nominations
 * Best Actress in a Leading Role - Julianne Moore
 * Best Cinematography - Edward Lachman
 * Best Writing (Original Screenplay) - Todd Haynes
 * Best Music (Score) - Elmer Bernstein
 * Independent Spirit Awards winner:
 * Best Picture
 * Best Director - Todd Haynes
 * Best Female Lead - Julianne Moore
 * Best Supporting Male - Dennis Quaid
 * Best Cinematography - Edward Lachman, A.S.C.
 * Golden Globe Award nominations:
 * Best Actress - Julianne Moore (Drama)
 * Best Supporting Actor - Dennis Quaid
 * Best Screenplay - Todd Haynes
 * Best Music Score - Elmer Bernstein

The Safety of Objects
 * Deauville Festival of American Film
 * International Critics Prize
 * Best Performance: Patricia Clarkson,
 * Ralph Lauren Fragrances Prize
 * Seattle Women in Cinema Film Festival
 * Third-place prize
 * San Sebastian International Film Festival
 * Nominated: Golden Seashell Award

The Luzhin Defence

Titus
 * 2000 Academy Awards
 * Nominated: Best Costume Design
 * 2000 Art Directors Guild
 * Nominated: Excellence in Production Design Award
 * 2000 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
 * Winner: Silver Ribbon Award – Best Production Design
 * 2000 Edgar Allan Poe Awards
 * Nominated: Best Motion Picture
 * 2000 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
 * Nominated: Sierra Award – Best Costume Design
 * Best Screenplay – Adapted
 * 2000 Satellite Awards
 * Winner: Gold Satellite – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama
 * Nominated: Best Art Direction, Production Design
 * Best Costume Design
 * Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama
 * Best Screenplay – Adapted
 * Best Visual Effects
 * 2001 London Critics Circle Film Awards
 * Nominated: Best British Actor of the Year

Men with Guns