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Established in 1966, the Duke Lemur Center (DLC) is a world leader in the study, care, and protection of lemurs—Earth’s most threatened group of mammals.
In this new video, we partnered with CYLNDR Studios to create visuals that help people see and feel the wonder of lemurs—and the urgent need to protect them.
The video, which was created at no charge to the DLC, won GOLD in its category at the 2025 New York Festivals Advertising Awards.
We’re excited to share this piece as a conversation starter, an invitation for support, and a reminder of what’s at stake.
Thank you to CYLNDR Studios and LTX Labs for making this possible!
Background and Award
“Closer Than You Think” was created by a team of creatives at CYLNDR Studios, a Los Angeles-based video production company, as part of the DLC’s ongoing effort to share the story of lemurs and inspire support for their future. Using AI tools and materials provided by the DLC, the result is a bit of fantasy, a blend of real and not, that helps us visualize moments and connections that would otherwise be impossible to capture.
For the New York Festivals Advertising Awards competition, “each team received a creative brief from a nonprofit organization or startup and, in just a few weeks, transformed it into a compelling 30–60 second spot ready for real-world release. The competition highlighted how the best storytelling emerges when innovative minds work together with advanced AI tools like LTX Studio. All campaigns submitted to NYFAi were evaluated by the esteemed 2025 NYFA Executive Jury. Gold, Silver, and Bronze trophies were awarded to the highest-scoring entries, setting a new benchmark for AI-driven storytelling.” CYLNDR’s video “Closer Than You Think” took home the Gold.
CYLNDR is committed to the responsible use of AI and honored that philosophy throughout the video’s creation, including by utilizing AI to mitigate stress that traditional filming methods may cause lemurs and other wild animals. The result is a powerful example of ethical storytelling and how innovation and conservation can go hand in hand.
We’re grateful to the team at CYLNDR for donating their time and talent to bringing lemurs, and the people working to protect them, to life in a whole new way!
Support the DLC
We invite you to learn more about the DLC’s history and mission, devotion to biodiversity conservation, and commitment to non-invasive research that prioritizes the wellbeing of each individual and the conservation of species while also facilitating scientific advancement.
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