Studio Silverback
Studio Silverback was launched in 2020 as a new production arm of Silverback - setting out to use the power of filmmaking and storytelling to reveal the urgent truth of our changing planet to a global audience.
As Sir David Attenborough has said achieving the right outcome is no longer a technological problem, it is a communications problem. If enough people can see the path to a sustainable future, we may just start down it in time.
The Studio was purpose-built to deliver this story and this vision, by joining with partners to create world-class environmental content for theatrical release, television, social media, major events and projects. In 2023, Studio Silverback founded Open Planet, a global footage library for creating positive change, free to use for educational, environmental and impact storytelling.
Under the leadership of Directors Colin Butfield and Jonnie Hughes, Studio Silverback has reached an exciting point on its journey to being a world-leading force in the climate and nature arena, now becoming Open Planet Studios.
Team
Colin Butfield
Company Director
Colin is a former executive director, specialising in communications, at the international conservation charity WWF (the Worldwide Fund for Nature).
He worked with Silverback to conceive and produce the ground-breaking series Our Planet for Netflix, its accompanying digital Halo project and David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet.
Jonnie Hughes
Company Director
Jonnie is a multi-award-winning producer/director, who has worked with Silverback Films since 2012 and was the creative lead on the Our Planet ‘Halo’.
Most recently he was producer/director of the phenomenally successful David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, and co-author with Sir David of the accompanying book.
Studio Silverback Projects
2024 Whitley Awards
The Whitley Awards (known as the 'Green Oscars) held by the Whitley Fund for Nature recognise and celebrate effective grassroots conservation leaders across the Global South. Studio Silverback edit-produced seven short films narrated by Sir David Attenborough - one for each of the six winners from Brazil, Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, Guyana, Cameroon and Nepal and for Purnima Barman’s Gold Award.
Our films were screened at the London ceremony presented by HRH The Princess Royal, and are helping to showcase the incredible work of these dedicated conservationists to the media and wider public.
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Planetary Guardians
Studio Silverback are proud to be content partners for the Planetary Guardians initiative which unites leaders from across the globe and across generations with a mission to elevate the Planetary Boundaries science.
We've produced a number of short-form films to launch the initiative as well as content for key events, including COP28, Davos, and New York Climate Week.
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The Global Tipping Points Report
Studio Silverback are producing The Earthshot Prize 2023 for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, the ambitious global initiative to protect and restore our planet. Silverback has previously produced the landmark five-part BBC and Discovery+ television series in 2021 (‘The Earthshot Price: Repairing Our Planet) as well as the five-part video series showcasing competition finalists in 2022. This is the first time Studio Silverback will be producing the broadcast, continuing our ongoing partnership with The Earthshot Prize.
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The Earthshot Prize 2023
Studio Silverback are producing The Earthshot Prize 2023 for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, the ambitious global initiative to protect and restore our planet. Silverback has previously produced the landmark five-part BBC and Discovery+ television series in 2021 (‘The Earthshot Price: Repairing Our Planet) as well as the five-part video series showcasing competition finalists in 2022. This is the first time Studio Silverback will be producing the broadcast, continuing our ongoing partnership with The Earthshot Prize.
Open Planet
Launching globally in early-2024, Open Planet is a free footage library for educational, environmental and impact storytelling about the climate and nature crisis.
Created by Studio Silverback, in partnership with EarthTime, the project will enable change-makers, educators, organisations and decision-makers to tell stories that will drive the changes needed in the next decade.
Earthshot: How to Save Our Planet
Launched by The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earthshot Prize is the most prestigious global environmental prize in history.
Studio Silverback has been selected as the filmmakers for the project.
The 5-film Series representing the 5 Earshot prizes aired on BBC1 in October 2021 and is now available on BBCiPlayer and Discovery + USA.
Seat at the Table: Climate Anxiety
Fresh from completing his journey to COP26, climate campaigner and YouTube creator Jack Harries has set out on a new, more personal journey.
In our two-part special together, Jack reflects on his own personal experience of climate-anxiety and sets out to find some answers from experts and young people across the globe. They discover how to come to terms with these feelings, and how for some, they can even become a positive force for change.
Seat At The Table
Studio Silverback is very proud to launch their new series Seat At The Table, a YouTube Originals:
The series starts October 25th 2021, releasing 1 episode a day until we get to COP26 where the last 2 episodes will be filmed, edited and released from COP itself.
Sir David Attenborough at the COP26 Opening Ceremony
Sir David, in his official capacity as People’s Advocate, was asked to deliver a speech during the Opening Ceremony of the UN’s COP26 in Glasgow, billed as the most important meeting humanity has ever had.
Sir David wanted to seize the opportunity to make this more than a speech – a highly engaging, audio-video presentation that would capture the attention of the Heads of State in the room, and represent the needs of people around the world. We worked with Sir David on the editorial and the AV content.
Dear Earth
October 2021 was the moment for the statement from Generation You Tube: “Dear Earth, hang in there, we’ve got your back, just wait till we’re in charge!”
The 2020’s is the most critical decade in human history. We have ten years to radically change our course and prevent a rapid decline through a series of one-way tipping points that threaten to bring about a permanently poorer, less stable, less wild Earth.
And who will inherit this Earth? The YT audience. Those who are not yet in power. The billions who have to wait for the time when they call the shots, when they can run the world properly.
The Climate Games
Our planet is heating up.
Elite athletes and content creators have been challenged to show us the scale of the problem and the solutions.
The Climate Games shows how visually captivating, irreverent sports and adventure challenges can serve a genuine purpose beyond pure entertainment - to highlight the story of climate change.