NGTI ANNOUNCES NEW ACQUISITION, FOLLOWING CO-SPONSORSHIP OF DEVELOPMENT FUND

Published: 28 May 2008

Earlier this year, NGTI joined forces with ABC Australia to sponsor a development prize for Australian producers working in the natural history arena. The winning idea, judged at the AIDC, came from Bettina Dalton’s Content Mint production company and has just gone into production.

UNDER SOUTHERN SEAS – A SEA LION’S ODYSSEY will be a 1 x 52 min blue-chip HD Special featuring previously unrecorded behaviour from the endangered Australian sea lion. Filmed on Dangerous Reef, in the waters off Southern Australia where three great ocean currents meet, Under Southern Seas will reveal one creature’s great devotion to her young and the continuation of her lineage, while battling against historical enemies and the forces of environmental change.

While the Australian Sea Lion plays the leading role, Fairy Penguins, vast submarine kelp forests, giant cuttlefish and great white sharks make up the strong supporting cast of this spectacular wildlife documentary.

UNDER SOUTHERN SEAS – A SEA LION’S ODYSSEY is being produced with ZDFE/ARTE as co-producer. NGTI will distribute worldwide, excluding Australia and French and German speaking territories.

Edwina Thring, NGTI’s head of acquisitions and co-productions was on the judging panel for the prize. She comments: “We received a number of very strong entries for this development fund but Content Mint’s pitch really stood out. The story is unique as the Australian sea lion has not been filmed in this way before. In addition, there is very strong science looking at the fragile world of this endangered species and its unique breeding cycle, a fast-paced narrative with drama, jeopardy and survival – and a supporting ‘cast’ of very compelling creatures. “Bettina Dalton’s passion for the subject matter and desire to profile these charismatic and fascinating creatures will help ensure that we have a successful and internationally appealing programme to sell.”

Bettina Dalton from Content Mint comments: “We are thrilled to have won this prize; NGTI has an amazing catalogue of blue-chip wildlife, so we are honoured that Under Southern Seas – a Sea Lion’s Odyssey will sit under the National Geographic brand in the international marketplace.”