Wild Bunch Acquires International Rights to Oceans 3D
By amoody
Created 03/13/2009 - 00:00
The first feature-length film from 3D Entertainment's filmmakers Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello (the Mantello Brothers), OCEANS 3D - INTO THE DEEP (working title), has been acquired by Wild Bunch, a Paris-and London-based sales, distribution and production outfit.
The film is set to become the first ever documentary to be both filmed and released in Digital 3D. The deal marks the first collaboration between the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, 3D Entertainment retains the rights (all-media) for the U.S. and Canada.
Distributors by territory for OCEANS 3D include: Gaga Communications in Japan; Eagle in Italy; New Vision in China; Deltamac in Hong Kong; Filmware International in Taiwan; Festive Film in Singapore; Wanda Distribucion Cinematografica in Spain; Monolith in Poland; Spentzos Film in Greece, Luxor Entertainment in Russia and CIS; Fivia in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bir Film in Turkey; Acme in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; Best Hollywood in Hungary; Hollywood Classic Entertainment in Czech Republic; Independenta Film in Romania; Lusomundo in Portugal; Orlando Films in Israel; Video Vision in South Africa; Europa Cine in Brazil and Europa Filmes in other countries of South America and Queen Films in Indonesia. Wild Bunch's Gallic distribution arm plans to launch the film in Digital 3D this summer.
The 85-minute long docu-fiction is currently in post-production and completion is anticipated for this May in time for the Cannes Film Festival's Annual Market. The film is the result of six years of production, 25 challenging expeditions and 200 hours of footage shot in 3D.
A tribute to the ocean, OCEANS 3D takes viewers on a voyage through, among others, Californian kelp forests, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and Roca Partida Island off the coast of Mexico, which is home to thousands of sharks. Audiences will witness some of the most spectacular and unforgettable scenes of life beneath the waves ever captured in 3D: the manta ray's enchanting ballet; the noble procession of hammerhead sharks; the lionfish's relentless hunt; a group of young dolphins playing algae-football; the astonishing beauty of the Spanish dancer sea slug; and a unique encounter with the largest cetaceans on the planet.
OCEANS 3D is presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau and endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme. Produced by 3D Entertainment and McKinney Underwater Productions, it is directed by Jean-Jacques Mantello with underwater cinematography by Gavin McKinney, and it features an original score by Christophe Jacquelin.
In 2001, 3D Entertainment developed an ambitious plan to produce both a feature-length docu-fiction and a 3D "edutainment" film series for IMAX theatres. The three installments already released at IMAX theatres -- DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D (2008) narrated by Daryl Hannah, SHARKS 3D (2005) and OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D (2003) -- have proven successful, cumulatively generating in excess of $68 million to date at the theatrical box office.
