Synopsis
Throughout history, humanity has pushed past limits—crossing oceans, climbing mountains, reaching for the stars. But today, one of our greatest frontiers is far more intimate: the ability to create life itself.
On December 28 1981, Elizabeth Carr became America’s first IVF baby—a moment that transformed reproductive medicine forever. More than four decades later, Carr is not just a living symbol of that breakthrough; she is a journalist, a mother, a wife, and an advocate fighting for reproductive rights as access to fertility care grows more difficult and political resistance intensifies.
At the same time, visionary scientist Dr. Egbert Edelbroek, founder of SpaceBorn United leads a bold new effort: advancing IVF for space environments not only to enable the first human conception beyond Earth, but to strengthen IVF technologies here and now. For Egbert and his team, what happens in orbit may hold answers to Earth’s deepening fertility crisis.
IVF: From Earth to Space weaves together the past, present, and future of human reproduction.
From test tubes to zero gravity, from cultural stigma to cutting-edge innovation, the film traces the extraordinary evolution of fertility science—exposing the barriers, breakthroughs, and ethical dilemmas reshaping who gets to have children and how. Alongside Elizabeth and Egbert, we meet couples struggling with infertility and hoping for a happy ending, scientists pushing boundaries, and technologies that could reshape our biological future.
Real breakthroughs—like SpaceBorn United’s launch of live biological samples into space and the upcoming development of embryos in microgravity—unfold in real time.
This is not just a story of space exploration or science fiction come true. With heart, urgency, and humor, the film aims to capture the moments where human emotion meets scientific ambition in a story of resilience, of inspiration, and of the unshakable human drive to bring new life into the world—wherever that world may be
Key Personnel
Stavroula Toska
Stavroula is an award-winning director, writer, producer, and the founder of The Toska Matrix, a New York–based production company dedicated to creating bold, emotionally resonant storytelling across genres.
Her work has earned over 90 awards in the U.S. and internationally, including honors from New York Women in Film & Television, Tribeca Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, Warsaw Film Festival, and more. Her projects have been supported by the Sundance Institute, Women Make Movies, Jerome Foundation, Chicken & Egg Pictures, NYSCA, the National Arts Club, and others.
Stavroula is currently developing multiple original and IP-based film and television projects—both scripted and unscripted—including a scripted drama series under a development deal with HBO Max where she serves as a creative Executive Producer. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with Academy Award, Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe-winning talent, further cementing her reputation as a dynamic creative force. Her work consistently explores themes of identity, power, connection, and resilience. Her storytelling is personal and yet universal, unflinchingly human, and known for authentic narratives that touch the core of who we are.
Expanding her vision beyond Earth, Stavroula is also leading boundary-pushing, space-focused projects, including the documentary series Sex in Space and the groundbreaking IVF: From Earth to Space, which investigates the history and future of human reproduction. She is also writing her first book about her experiences working in the world of professional Domination.
Her most recent project, A Photographic Memory (dir. Rachel Seed) is currently screening in theaters in New York and Los Angeles (Kino Lorber, Zeitgeists Films).
For more information, visit https://www.thetoskamatrix.com/
Elizabeth Carr
Elizabeth Carr is the first baby born via in vitro fertilization in the United States. In the media since 3 cells old, Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for those fighting for fertility rights. From battles over insurance coverage, to educating doctors on how to interact with patients going through infertility treatments, to advice for parents on how to talk to children about assisted reproductive technologies, Elizabeth is proud to share her voice and story in order to fight for those who may not be able to fight for themselves.
Elizabeth is a fearless Patient Advocate, striving to educate and empower people based on her life experiences and expertise within the fertility world. She has presented to audiences around the globe including at the United Nations, ASRM, ESHRE, and the national infertility association, RESOLVE.
A dynamic speaker, Elizabeth’s passion lies in education from helping companies craft fertility benefit packages & parental leave policies, to keynote speeches, to sitting one- on-one with people facing fertility questions head on.
Elizabeth has worked as a journalist, marketing and events, and fundraising making her an expert at distilling complex issues into easy-to-digest stories.
Elizabeth is also a marathoner, triathlete, coffee connoisseur, wife, mother, and writer.
For more information, visit https://ejordancarr.com/
Dr. Egbert Edelbroek
Dr. Egbert Edelbroek is the founder and CEO of SpaceBorn United (SBU), a groundbreaking company based in the Netherlands with a bold and unique mission: to research and enable human reproduction in space while using and advancing IVF
technology on Earth.
His interest in IVF began when he was first asked by two friends to become their sperm donor. He is now the biological father of 18 children.
His work is rooted in the long-term sustainability of human life beyond Earth, particularly as humanity sets its sights on missions to Mars and aims to establish permanent colonies in outer space. SBU focuses on the scientific and technological challenges associated with conceiving, birthing, and raising human beings in the microgravity conditions of space.
Space-for-Earth Value: The process of enabling IVF and early embryo development in space (by re-engineering and optimizing IVF technology: e.g. embryo incubators and cryogenic vitrification) shows the strong potential of improving IVF and assisted reproduction treatments on Earth, currently a $180 Billion market.
SpaceBorn United’s IP is expected to increase IVF success rates, shorten treatment periods, reduce medication costs, enhance embryo selection and improve patient well-being.
“Our mission is not just about understanding and enabling safe human reproduction in space but also making real advances in human reproduction technology here on Earth. By enabling reproduction under unique micro- and partial gravitational conditions, we are in a unique position to deliver benefits for humanity.”
Dr. Egbert Edelbroek, ForbesSpace (April 2025)
For more information visit https://www.spacebornunited.com/
