Photo courtesy of Kewin Lorenzen

"My story began when I woke up one morning after my 50th birthday and decided to listen to that little voice inside myself," Sam reminisces, reflecting on the times when she would sit on her bed as a young girl, surrounded by a sprawl of National Geographic magazines across her bedroom floor. “I made a promise to myself that I would finally take a scuba diving class and that's where my adventure began. Making that one decision set me on the path to making my documentary Land, Sea & Sky: The Fight for Keystone Species.”

After being inspired by the work of Petronel Nieuwoudt and the critical work she's doing to save endangered rhinos in South Africa, Sam began conducting her research into keystone species and the pivotal role that women play in conservation began to emerge. Sam discovered Cristina Zenato's conservation efforts in the Grand Bahamas fighting for the Caribbean Reef Sharks. Sam also discovered the work of Iroro Tanshi who is fighting to protect the straw-colored fruit bat in Calabar, Nigeria. It became clear that these women were at the forefront of major conservation efforts – just by taking one action at a time – out of a genuine love for the species. They are truly making a difference and that’s why it’s so important to tell their stories. 

We invite you to join us on our filmmaking journey and, more importantly, to discover how we can all contribute to supporting their efforts and participate in the fight.

To find out more about Samantha as a filmmaker go to: www.samanthaschutz.com