CEO & Co-Founder
Anita Ladkani has made a significant mark in the realm of documentary filmmaking. Known for her keen eye for storytelling and her deep passion for environmental and social issues, her work has been instrumental in bringing important global narratives to light. As a co-founder of Malaika Pictures, Anita has played a crucial role in producing critically acclaimed documentaries that have resonated with audiences worldwide, earning accolades such as the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Her expertise in blending her unique life experiences with her professional craft has positioned Anita as a vital force in the industry. This introduction precedes a detailed look into Anita Ladkani’s remarkable journey and the impactful projects that have defined her career.
Chasing Jane (WT) is a deeply personal documentary that offers an intimate look at the life of Jane Goodall, revealing the woman behind the iconic chimpanzee expert. Directed by her long-time friend Richard Ladkani, the film explores the two sides of Jane: the public figure and the private individual. As she approaches her 90th birthday in April 2024, Jane remains as dedicated as ever, continuing to inspire hope and advocate for the planet. This documentary, made possible by her close bond with Ladkani, captures Jane’s humor, determination, and unyielding spirit, offering viewers an unprecedented glimpse into the life of a true global icon and tireless environmental advocate.
Amazônia (WT) is a powerful documentary that follows Juma Xipaia, a young Indigenous leader from Pará, Brazil, as she fights to protect the Amazon rainforest from destruction. With deep ancestral knowledge and a fierce spirit, Juma unites her people against illegal gold prospectors and devastating fires, standing as a true Guardian of the Forest. Despite facing multiple attempts on her life, she takes her struggle to the global stage, determined to save her homeland. This intimate and emotional film aims to inspire viewers worldwide to join the fight for the preservation of our planet, for the sake of future generations.
Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold” is a three-part documentary series on National Geographic that follows climber Alex Honnold and his team as they embark on an expedition to climb a previously unclimbed 4,000-foot sea wall in eastern Greenland. The team, which includes glaciologist Heïdi Sevestre and other experienced climbers, crosses glaciers and ice sheets to reach the climbing site. The expedition serves as a platform to study the impacts of climate change on Greenland’s ice cap, with the team collecting data on the region’s ice sheet depth and density. The documentary highlights the team’s scientific research and their personal reflections on the importance of climate change awareness and the future of the planet.
The Mexican Sea of Cortez is facing total collapse because of a war. A war of fishermen, the government, and conservationists against drug cartels and the Chinese mafia. The cause of conflict: the swim bladder of the Totoaba fish, nicknamed the “Cocaine of the Sea”.
The Chinese believe it to have miraculous healing powers, and over the past few years, a multimillion-dollar black market has emerged. The promise of making ridiculous amounts of easy money is driving local fishermen into the arms of ruthless Mexican drug lords. The “El Chapo” of Totoaberos, a heavily armed and dangerous cartel boss, is running a tight network of fishermen, but also controls corrupt officials in the police and the army. Stopping him is almost impossible.
Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez “The Aquarium of the World”, but now it is being attacked by thousands of illegal gillnets which traffickers use to find the Totoaba, killing everything in their wake. Caught in the eye of the storm is the world’s smallest porpoise, the Vaquita; a subspecies of whales found only here in the Sea of Cortez. So far, all efforts to protect it from the evil forces of money and greed have failed. Without a massive intervention, the Vaquita will very likely go extinct within the next twelve months as less than fifteen remain.
An ambitious plan to catch the last surviving Vaquita and resettle them into a protected sanctuary for rebreeding appears to be their last hope. Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, and there is no telling whether the Vaquita can even survive captivity.
Meanwhile, to alleviate imminent danger, activists from the organization Sea Shepherd are scrambling to pull mile after mile of illegal gillnets from the waters, freeing any surviving entangled animals and destroying the nets. Prone to attacks from angry fishermen, they collaborate with the Mexican navy that is struggling to keep the peace.
As conservationists fight to save this immensely beautiful ecosystem, investigative journalists and undercover intelligence agents are targeting the dealers and traffickers who are the main enablers fueling this trade. Gathering the necessary evidence that will hold up in court to take down the criminal network is a highly dangerous endeavor, involving the infiltration of drug cartels and the Chinese mafia. They are willing to risk their own lives, since this battle is about more than the survival of one species. It is a fight for the value of life, both human and animal, that we need to protect in the 21stcentury.
From executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio, The Ivory Game is an epic documentary thriller that goes undercover into the dark and sinister underbelly of ivory trafficking. Award-winning director Richard Ladkani and Academy Award®–nominated director Kief Davidson filmed undercover for 16 months in China and Africa with a crack team of intelligence operatives, undercover activists, passionate frontline rangers and tough-as-nails conservationists, to infiltrate the corrupt global network of ivory trafficking. A production from Terra Mater Film Studios and Vulcan Productions, this stunningly photographed exposé follows poachers in pursuit of the ‘white gold’ of ivory. Ultimately, the film becomes an urgent wake-up call that proves time is running out for the African elephants, dangerously nearing closer and closer to extinction.
“Straight as an arrow filmmaking raises this film above the crowd”, Variety Magazine
“A harrowing journey through hell on earth”, New York Times
“The Devil’s Miner” is the story of 14 year-old Basilio Vargas and his 12 year-old brother Bernardino, as they work in the Bolivian silver mines of Cerro Rico, which date back to the sixteenth century. Through the children’s eyes, we encounter the world of devout Catholic miners who sever their ties with God upon entering the mountain. It is an ancient belief that the devil, as represented by hundreds of statues constructed in the tunnels, determines the fate of all who work within the mines.
Raised without a father and living in virtual poverty on the slopes of the mine with their mother, the boys assume many adult responsibilities. They must work to afford the clothing and supplies vital to their education. Basilio believes only the mountain devil’s generosity will allow them to earn enough money to attend the new school year. Without an education, the brothers have no chance to escape their destiny in the silver mines.
Austrian producer Anita Ladkani was born in Beirut and spent her early childhood amidst the turmoil of the Lebanese Civil War. At 14, her family relocated to Kenya, where her first safari sparked a lifelong passion for wildlife and nature.
Anita pursued a Master’s degree in Communications in Vienna, where she secured her first role in documentary film production while still a university student. She then spent six years in New York City, furthering her education at the New York University Film School and gaining invaluable experience as a production coordinator, particularly in the commercial sector. During this period, she freelanced with renowned film production companies such as RadicalMedia and Edgeworx.
Upon returning to Europe in 2001, Anita took on the role of Account Manager at the innovative new media and e-marketing agency H2O Media in Munich.
In 2005, Anita managed her first feature documentary, The Devil’s Miner, directed by Richard Ladkani, marking the beginning of a fruitful professional partnership. In 2015, they co-founded Malaika Pictures, named after their first-born daughter. Anita’s deep commitment to wildlife conservation and her extensive expertise in film production have been instrumental in the creation of powerful documentaries such as the Oscar-shortlisted The Ivory Game (Netflix, 2016) and the Sundance Audience Award-winning Sea of Shadows (National Geographic, 2018).
Anita is currently producing two significant documentary features: YANUNI and Jane – The Woman Behind the Icon, continuing her impactful work in the realm of documentary filmmaking.
