EXPLORA FILMS

Explora Films is a content production company committed to creating and delivering high-quality experiences that enrich audience’s lives with entertaining and satisfying stories. Headed by award-winning television executive, producer, and filmmaker, Mauricio Vélez-Domínguez, who has over 30 years experience in developing and producing high-quality bilingual content in factual, children, drama and entertainment genres.

our clients

Explora Films works with top international broadcasters and companies such as: Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Sesame Workshop, Canada Media Fund (CMF), Jay Walter Thompson (JWT), Rainforest Foundation U.S, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Sancho BBDO, The Humboldt Institute, Cine Colombia, Señal Colombia, Caracol Television, among others. Mauricio has also worked with organizations including Amazon Prime, Warner Bros. / Discovery, Spotify, Alcaldía de Bogotá, Proimágenes Colombia and the Canada Council for the Arts. 

Our offer

Explora Films has a proven ability in developing and managing projects with major content distributors, from initial concept to final delivery. Our passion is in creating stories that move and enrich people’s life to be not only watched, but experienced and multipurposed across a full range of media platforms. 

services

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION : Research, development, writing and production of factual and fictional content. 

DIRECTION: Directing services for traditional audiovisual and 360 VR projects.

LOCAL PRODUCTION SERVICES: Localization and production logistics services in Colombia and Latin America.

TEAM

We collaborate on a project-specific basis with some of the region’s most skilled and seasoned professionals.

Mauricio is a filmmaker and documentary producer nominated for 5 Emmy Awards and winner of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Mac Arthur Foundation and Proimágenes Colombia.  He has won awards at New York Festivals, Omni Awards and the Newmedia Canada 2017 digital development call, among others.  Mauricio has been directing, writing, and producing films since 1991.  He headed Señal Colombia, his country’s national public cultural and educational channel between 2007 and 2008. He directed the communications department of the Humboldt Institute and was Executive Producer of Cenpro Television. As an independent filmmaker, Mauricio has worked with top international broadcasters, streamers, and companies such as: Discovery Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Animal Planet, Sesame Workshop, Warner Bros. / Discovery, ViX, The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada Media Fund (CMF), Jay Walter Thompson (JWT), Rainforest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Sancho BBDO, The Humboldt Institute, Cine Colombia, Señal Colombia and Caracol Television. Mauricio studied Filmmaking and Engineering Sciences at Harvard University.

Lina is a seasoned producer with a strong focus on the audiovisual sector, cultural initiatives, event management (ICC), and institutional communications. With over 18 years of expertise in content creation, Lina’s professional journey spans a wide range of projects. She has collaborated extensively with renowned global networks, including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, FTV Latin America, HTV Latino, Much Music, and Sesame Street, among others, both within Colombia and across South American nations.

Her proficiency encompasses various domains, including comprehensive production management, audiovisual content creation as well as orchestrating logistical aspects and providing local assistance for foreign productions of international channels. Lina’s proficiency extends to diverse subjects such as documentaries, nature, arts and culture, lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment.

Lorenzo Dunoyer is a Producer/Director who has worked for various Television companies in the US and Latin America. His most recent projects include credits such as Content Producer for Telemundo’s “Hoy Día” and Amazon Prime Video “My Colombian Team,” Executive Producer and Director of “Generation STEM,” a docu series series to increase the number of Hispanic Children in STEM fields for Vme and ASU, Managing Producer of the Xfintiy Latino Channel for Comcast, Supervising Producer for the Emmy nominated documentary Odyssey of Migrant Children for Nat Geo Latin America and Nat Geo Mundo. He was also the Senior Producer for Plaza Sésamo, the Latin America version of Sesame Street, International Emmy nomination; Executive Producer at Discovery Channel Latin America/Iberia, Senior Producer at Univision Television Network, Producer at NBC, ABC and PBS affiliate stations. His awards include three national Emmy nominations, 2 Gold and one Bronze medals at the New York Film Festival, two Crystal Screen awards for best documentaries in Mexico, among others. He studied Radio-Television and Film at the University of Texas at Austin and has a Masters Degree in Television Broadcasting Management from Ohio University where he attended as a CPB fellow.

omar gutiérrez

Born in Hato Corozal (Casanare) on September 15, 1977. With inclinations towards painting and design, he began studying advertising and design at C.E.S.T. in 1995. In that same year, he started gravitating towards video, which led him to travel to Rome, Italy, with the purpose of specializing in documentary photography and natural light handling at the CINECITTA film school. Upon returning to Colombia, he pursued his career as an audiovisual photographer, working on documentaries for national and international channels such as Der Spiegel Germany, Canal Plus, and Spanish Television.

For a long time, he was involved in documenting conflicts in the Colombian jungle, working for Channel 4. Starting in 2009, he collaborated with Latin American production companies as a director of photography, producing and photographing documentaries for Discovery Channel, Natgeo, History Channel, Al Jazeera, HBO, FoxLife, Utilisima, and MTV. He worked on series like TABU, OBSESIONES, MUNDOS EXTREMOS, MEGAFABRICAS, MEGACONSTRUCCIONES, CAROLINA HERRERA: A Journey Through the Senses, CATFISH, CHEF’S CHALLENGE, MOTOCHEFS. Later, he transitioned to directing American formats such as DESAFIO X2 Colombia/Mexico, ENTREPRENEURS in Los Angeles for Nat Geo, and Obsessions and Canine Mission. He also directed music videos for emerging and renowned artists like Morat and Andrés Cepeda.

He has also served as Director of Photography for television series and feature films such as THE WATSON CASE, THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, THE MOUNTAIN GIRL, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SOFIA, among others. In all these projects, his expertise in camera and natural light management is always evident.

MAURICIO VELEZ DOMINGUEZ

Mauricio Vélez-Domínguez is an award winning independent producer, director and writer with ample experience in scientific, historic, social and nature documentary production. Mauricio is a five-time Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in Spanish for “En la línea: México” (2021), “Caravanas” (2020), “Narco Armas” (2014) and “Huesos que hablan” (2014); International Emmy Award nominee for Best Documentary for “Cinco de mayo: un día de gloria” (2013), Silver Gold Medalist at the New York Festivals.   Mauricio worked as Vice-president of Television for Radio Television Nacional de Colombia (rtvc), Colombia’s national public education and cultural channel.  He is the current president and founder of Explora Films, an independent production company that produces documentaries for international channels like Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Rainforest Foundation US, Sesame Workshop, The Nature Conservancy, Panthera, Alcaldía de Bogotá, among many others.  

RECENT Filmography

Vecinos inesperados / Unexpected Neighbors

Director and scriptwriter of a feature length documentary film for theatrical release about the wild animals that call Bogota home. https://www.youtube.com/watchv=KKaFs2l9R5M    

ViX – Nunca tuvo miedo

Director and scriptwriter for the premium series about the king of corrido, Chalino Sánchez. Produced by Pacha Films for ViX. Director y guionista de la serie premium titulada Nunca tuvo miedo, que cuenta la historia del rey del corrido Chalino Sánchez producida por Pacha Films.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrHLFm_g7Is                                                                                                                              

WARNER BROS. / DISCOVERY

Editorial Consultant of 4 premium True Crime series and one paranormal series. Consultor Editorial de 4 series premium de género True Crime producidas en Argentina, Perú y Colombia para la plataforma Discovery+, y una serie de género paranormal producida en México.

• CAZAR A LA BESTIA
• MASACRE EN EL VALLE DE LOS MORMONES
• JUNIOR: LA MUERTE DEL HIJO DEL PRESIDENTE
• LA HIJA DE DIOS
• SEÑALES DEL MÁS ALLÁ

DISCOVERY CHANNEL                                                                                                                 Expediente Chapecó: detrás de la tragedia – Writer of the shooting script of the premium series produced by Pacha Films. Escritor del guion de rodaje de la serie premium  por Pacha Films. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQWPnKybO1o

Historia de un campeón – director and writer of a special about boxing legend Canelo Alvarez. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuEq8ihW6VE

En la línea México – director and writer of a documentary special about Covid in México. Nominated to the Emmy Awards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDmb1sv69g0

En la línea – director and writer of a documentary special about Covid in Latin América.

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO – Mi Selección Colombia

Co-director and co-writer of the series about the Colombian national team in its quest to win Copa América 2021. Co-director y co-guionista de la serie titulada Mi Selección Colombia,  de 6 episodios x 30 minutos, sobre la Selección colombiana de fútbol en su esfuerzo por ganar la Copa América 2021 y clasificar al mundial de Catar 2022. Producido por Miracol.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNUJl9faTUo

SPOTIFY – Fútbol a muerte

Co-director and co-writer of a true crime podcast series about death and soccer. “Fútbol a Muerte” is a podcast that investigates the most emblematic true crime cases associated to soccer in Latin America. These are real-life stories presented in a suspenseful manner that allow us to understand the contexts in which these events unfolded and reflect on the need to eradicate violence from football. This podcast series, hosted by sports journalist Marion Reimers, takes us inside the football-related crimes that have impacted the region. Fútbol a Muerte es un podcast que investiga los casos más emblemáticos en los que el crimen le jugó sucio a este deporte en Latinoamérica. Son relatos de la vida real y en clave de suspenso, que nos permiten entender el contexto en los que se dieron estos sucesos y reflexionar sobre la necesidad de erradicar la violencia del fútbol.Esta serie podcast conducida por la periodista deportiva Marion Reimers muestra desde adentro los crímenes en el fútbol que impactaron a la región. https://open.spotify.com/show/0g7Z3SyC5mL7JXgke1Yb1T

The Science of the Champion –

An original Discovery Channel production that reveals the hidden and fascinating side of today’s football: how cutting-edge science and technology combine to “manufacture” elite footballers.

La Ciencia del Campeón – Una producción original de Discovery Channel que revela el lado oculto y fascinante del fútbol actual: la manera en que la ciencia y la tecnología de punta se combinan para “fabricar ” futbolistas élite.

Drug Kingpin Hippos –

Animal Planet’s one-hour special DRUG KINGPIN HIPPOS explores cocaine king Pablo Escobar’s decades-long stronghold on Colombia and the lasting threat his hippos continue to pose to the country today. Unearthing archival footage and featuring exclusive interviews, including with Roberto Escobar, Pablo’s eldest brother and closest friend, the programme will provide viewers with a history of Escobar’s rise to prominence and his ultimate demise as the world’s preeminent narco-terrorist. The special also chronicles the plight of a team of Colombian veterinarians as they race against the clock to locate a runaway adult male hippo, a living symbol of Escobar’s lasting terror on the country.

Bacilos África –

Animal Planet’s 6-episode special follows the Colombian-Brazilian and Puerto Rican music group as they travel through Africa in search for inspiration for their next hit.

Al pie del volcán –

Discovery’s one hour special shows how millions of people in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica live near an active volcano, which represents an imminent risk. The documentary also aims to show how much science has progressed in detecting potential eruptions. New York Festivals Bronce World Medal.

Wilma: un año después –

One year after Hurricane Wilma struck the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, Discovery Channel draws a parallel between the recovery of Cancun and the catastrophe unfolding in Guatemala at the same moment in this one hour special. New York Festivals Silver World Medal.

El Fidel que Conozco –

Discovery Channel’s one hour special on Fidel Castro told through those who knew him personally.

Páramo: Highlands of the Andes –

Natural history special about the amazing adaptations of life in the tropical Andes.

De todo corazón –

Sesame Workshop’s special and PSA campaign to raise awareness about developing healthy habits for life.

First Time Filmmakers-

Produced for Discovery Channel in alliance with Señal Colombia and directed by Colombian tangent, five films capture stories of a country in transformation.

Tras las huellas del tapir de montaña – tells the inspirational story of scientists in their effort to save the mountain tapir from extinction.

Voices of Kidnapping –

50,770 persons have been kidnapped in Colombia since 1964, year in which the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, were born. Some of them were chained to a tree by their necks for as long as 10 years. Many were executed because their families could not pay the ransom. Others committed suicide or simply gave up hope and died in captivity. But all of those who returned to freedom agree that the key to their survival was being able to listen to the messages sent by their families through a radio program called “Voices of Kidnapping”. Sponsored by the Canada Council of the Arts, this film is a 360, immersive observational documentary portrait of Herbin Hoyos, the radio journalist and human rights activist who after being kidnapped by the FARC and rescued by the authorities, started “Voices of Kidnapping” to allow the families of kidnapping victims to send messages to their loved ones held hostage in the jungles of Colombia. The documentary follows Herbin, one of the world’s leading anti-kidnapping advocates, as he struggles to fight for the rights of kidnapping victims in Colombia. It is also an intimate account that shows the pain, the hope, the despair, and the joy of those who lived through the horrible experience of kidnapping and came back to tell their story. 

Kidnapped –

Shot in Cinematic VR format, “Kidnapped” is an interactive 360 / 3D immersive experience that will transport the viewer to the haunting world of kidnapping, turning him/her into a kidnapping victim. This experience recreates the world of a person who, after being kidnapped by an insurgent group, is held captive in the jungles of Colombia and chained next to another victim who has been chained by the neck to a tree for 11 years. Sponsored by Newmedia Colombia, Mintió, Proimágenes Colombia and the Canada Media Fund.

Unexpected Neighbors –

A wildlife feature-length documentary that shows the unexpected animals that inhabit Bogota, the peculiar ways in which they have adapted to urban life, and the cunning strategies they have deciphered to coexist among Bogotanos. Explora Films produced the natural history sequences for the trailer of the project.  Mauricio Vélez Domínguez was the director and screenwriter of the film for theatrical release, commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of the city of Bogotá. Premiered in December 2019 in a special event involving Bogota’s Philharmonic Orchestra playing the music of the film life in front of 9,000 spectators. https://youtu.be/KKaFs2l9R5M.

Rainforest Foundation –

Explora Films produced two short documentaries for the Rainforest Foundation, whose mission is to support Indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and uphold their rights by assisting them in:

• Securing and controlling the natural resources necessary for their long term well being and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate their culture or compromise their future; and​
• Developing the means to protect their individual and collective rights and to obtain, shape and control basic services from the state.

CONTACT

 mauricio.explorafilms@yahoo.com