New Bristol-made David Attenborough film will highlight why we need to save our oceans
Two Bristol film studios have teamed up with veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough to produce a powerful new feature film showing why healthy oceans are essential for a stable, flourishing planet.
Ocean with David Attenborough, which will be released in cinemas on 8 May – the same day as Sir David’s 99th birthday – brings together Bristol filmmakers Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios.
The two firms are key players in natural history filmmaking and have helped make Bristol a global centre for the industry.
Ocean with David Attenborough will take viewers on a breathtaking journey around the world’s seas and oceans and highlights their importance in the preservation of our planet.
Its world premiere will be at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 6 May, ahead of its cinema releases in more than 25 countries worldwide from 8 May. It will then be available globally on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu later this year.
The film exposes unprecedented realities and challenges facing our ocean, from destructive fishing practices to mass coral reef bleaching.
Yet, the story remains optimistic, highlighting inspirational global examples that convey Attenborough’s greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever witnessed.
Sir David Attenborough has a long association with Bristol and has worked with the BBC’s Natural History Unit, which has been based in the city since 1957.
In 2013 he was awarded Bristol’s highest honour, the freedom of the city.
Sir David said: “My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man.
“In this film, we share some of those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can be restored to health. This could be the moment of change.
“Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean. Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen.”
Colin Butfield, film director and founder at Open Planet Studios, said: “This film journeys through 100 years of incredible ocean discoveries. It reveals how the ocean has shaped our world and why our future is intertwined with the health of our ocean.
“Yet despite this realisation ocean protection and restoration is chronically underfunded. Indeed, of all the UN sustainable development goals ocean receives some of the lowest levels of philanthropic and government funds.
“We hope the remarkable stories shared in this film will inspire the next generation to look beyond the shore and beneath the waves.”
Silverback Films is a long-term collaborator of Attenborough and two years ago produced six episodes of Wild Isles, fronted by the veteran broadcaster and made with the Bristol-based BBC Natural History Unit.
Its ground-breaking wildlife documentaries for the BBC have included the seven-part series The Hunt, which revealed the remarkable strategies use by hunters to catch their prey.
It also produced 11 out of 16 Disneynature films released on Disney+, including Bears, Monkey Kingdom, Penguins and Dolphin Reef. Elephant, narrated by The Duchess of Sussex.
In 2020 it was acquired by All3Media, joining a stable of 40-plus production and distribution companies across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and the US responsible for programmes as diverse as Flea Bag, The Only Way is Essex and Gogglebox.
Open Planet Studios is award-winning impact production team – formerly Studio Silverback – producing ground-breaking content that uses the power of storytelling to create change for the planet.
Ocean with David Attenborough has been co-produced by Arksen, the performance apparel, vessel and vehicle brand, and charity 10% for the Ocean.
