Silverback Films

Our documentary film Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story has been nominated for 6 Critics Choice Awards!

From Silverback Films, directed by distinguished photographer and filmmaker Charlie Hamilton James, our film follows heartfelt journey of Billy and a wild otter, Molly, as they navigate a world of love, laughter, and unexpected companionship.

‘Billy and Molly’ has been nominated for; Best Documentary Feature, Best New Documentary Filmmaker – Charlie Hamilton James, Best Cinematography – Johnny Rolt and Bertie Gregory, Best Score – Erland Cooper, Best Narration (written by Charlie Hamilton James, performed by Billy Mail and Susan Mail), and Best Science / Nature Documentary.

Our film sits alongside the other documentaries leading the Critics Choice Association‘s ninth annual awards, with winners announced in a ceremony in NYC on November 10, 2024.

“This year’s nominated films and series offered us new ways to see the world, celebrate our heroes, and better understand difficult histories,” said Christopher Campbell, Critics Choice Association’s VP, Documentary. “We are excited to honor so many exceptional documentaries as we continue to recognize diverse voices and styles within the realm of nonfiction storytelling.”

Huge congratulations to the talented team, and to the films’ stars for sharing this truly unforgettable story.

Read more: https://www.criticschoice.com/2024/10/14/nominations-unveiled-for-the-ninth-annual-critics-choice-documentary-awards/

Wildscreen Festival is the biggest global gathering of natural world storytellers – the annual festival is taking place 14-18 October. The celebration, which takes place in Bristol and online, unites filmmakers, storytellers, and conservationists to champion the protection of our planet through impactful storytelling.

Silverback Films is proud to participate, celebrating our commitment to telling stories about the natural world that not only inspire, but that also make a difference.

Jeff Wilson, Series Producer and Director at Silverback Films and the Chair of the Festival Advisory Board said:

“Wildscreen 2024 comes at a crucial time in our industry’s history – one in which the commissioning landscape is changing rapidly forcing the genre to innovate and adapt. This year’s festival is designed to bring industry leaders and creatives together to celebrate our achievements, to motivate our community towards this new world, and most importantly to reconnect with a community whose power has always lain in the strength of our relationships and collective love of the natural world. Silverback is so proud to be at the centre of all of those ambitions, and above all, we are excited to welcome all of our international friends to Bristol. It’s going to be a Wildscreen to remember!”

Silverback Films is participating in the following:

SPECIAL SCREENING

‘BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY’ + Q & A. Sunday 13^th October, 19:45 – 21:15 – Bristol Megascreen

Speakers: Jeff Wilson & Charlie Hamilton James

A special screening of our Nat Geo feature Billy & Molly – a heart-warming story of love between a wild otter and a man set in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland. The screening. Featuring a Q&A with Silverback’s Jeff Wilson, Producer, and Director Charlie Hamilton James.

HEADLINER

IN CONVERSATION WITH: CHARLOTTE MOORE. Monday. 14^th October, 12:00 – 13:00 Attenborough Auditorium.
Hosted by: Alastair Fothergill
Speakers: Charlotte Moore

Silverback Films Co-founder and Director Alastair Fothergill hosts a frank conversation with BBC Chief Content Officer and long-time fan of natural history Charlotte Moore about the BBC’s Natural History legacy, the evolution of the genre, its current output and her vision for the future of natural history on the BBC.

MASTERCLASS.

THE ART OF PUTTING WORDS TO PICTURE: SCRIPTWRITING IN THE EDIT.  Monday 14^th October, 15:30 – 16:30 – Parsons Theatre
Speakers: Jeff Wilson & Polly Billam

Join this scriptwriting masterclass and learn how you can bring the narrative to life through your choice of words. To build emotion, connection, laughter and knowledge, find out how with Silverback’s Jeff Wilson and Polly Billam

MASTERCLASS

ANATOMY OF LIFE ON OUR PLANET. Tuesday October 15^th, 12:00-13:00 – Bristol Megascreen
Hosted by: Naida Albright
Speakers: Dan Tapster, Sophie Lanfear, Barny Revill & Jonathan Privett

Our ground-breaking Netflix series Life on Our Planet, described by The New Yorker as “the most ambitious nature documentary ever made,” blends epic modern wildlife scenes with world-class VFX of ancient creatures to tell the greatest story – the story of life. The Silverback team Dan Tapster, Sophie Lanfear, and Barny Revill, along with Jonathan Privett from Industrial Light & Magic, will reveal the anatomy of this groundbreaking production and share insights into the six years of work that brought it to life.

MASTERCLASS

CINEMATOGRAPHY MASTERS: DRONES. Wednesday 16^th October, 15:30 – 16:30 – Parsons Theatre

Hosted by: Patrick Evans

Speakers: Darren Clementson, Abi Thomas & Anthony Njuguna

Explore the world of drone cinematography with Silverback’s Tech & Drone Manager Darren Clementon alongside others. This masterclass delves into the unique skills and techniques that make drones an essential tool for capturing stunning, cinematic aerial views, transforming how stories are told from above.

HEADLINER

ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: AN INDUSTRY IN FLUX. Thursday 17^th October, 10:30-11:30 – Attenborough Audiotorium
Hosted by: Clive Whittingham
Speakers: Vanessa Berlowitz, Keith Scholey & Walter Koehler

There is a cold wind blowing through our industry affecting large numbers of our community – what does that mean for the future of the wildlife and environmental genre? Are there lessons from the past that can help inform the future, or are we in a brand-new world? Silverback Films Co-founder and Director Keith Scholey joins other production company founders and experienced filmmakers to discuss what would they do, knowing what they know now, if they were in the mid-point of their career? And what does a good future look like to them?

SESSION

STORIES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD. Thursday 17^th October, 17:00 – 18:00 Parsons Theatre
Hosted by Alex Bowmer
Speakers: Chris Howard & Carolina Fernandes

Explore the power of impact storytelling through the lens of experienced filmmakers – Silverback’s Chris Howard, and Carolina Fernandes. Hear how different creators approach storytelling with purpose, highlighting successful case studies that demonstrate its importance in driving change. This session offers a deep dive into the ways impactful narratives can resonate with audiences and make a lasting difference in the production process, and the communities, habitats and species they portray.

SOCIAL

TALENT SPEED NETWORKING: TAKING THE NEXT STEP. Friday 18^th October, 10:30 – 13:00 BBC Natural History Unit (RSVP only)

Wildscreen is inviting early and mid-career Assistant Producers, Edit Assistants, Production Coordinators and Researchers to sit down one to one with Talent Managers, Producers and Executives to discuss progression and upcoming opportunities in the Natural History Storytelling industry. Our team will be joining this networking event to chat with talent and share advice.

Panda Award nominations

The Wildscreen Panda Awards celebrate the very best in the natural world storytelling craft and are one of the highest honours in the international wildlife film and TV industry. They recognise that natural history has never been more important as we face the greatest environmental crisis of our time.

This year, Silverback Films has received 6 nominations for outstanding achievements across five productions:

• Wild Isles: Ocean for ‘Cinematography’
• Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story for ‘Cinematography’, ‘Producer / Director’ and ‘Scripted Narrative’
• Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey for ‘On-screen Talent’
• Save Our Wild Isles for ‘Sustainability’

Our work, and industry, takes global audiences to the world’s most remote, inhospitable and threatened environments, shining a spotlight on species and habitats that most people will never have the opportunity to experience. The Panda Awards celebrates the human endeavour and unique skill that it takes to connect nature’s stories with global audiences.

A huge congratulations to the incredible individuals behind these productions, and to all those nominated. The winners will be announced at the Panda Awards Ceremony on 17th October 2024, which take place alongside the Wildscreen Festival.

On 26 September our Silverback Films internal Pride Committee hosted the first queer focused industry party in Bristol ‘Pride 365’. Over 150 people from across the industry came together to celebrate and raise money for Pride without Borders – a charity supporting queer refugees in Bristol.

The night included an array of on-stage performances and DJ sets (including a special industry guest DJ from Silverback), Divine Di in her mystic booth, as well as queer artists and creatives from Bristol and Cardiff promoting their work.

Ellie Jo Hilton, on behalf of our Pride Committee shared:

“The whole vibe of the night was filled with love and joy, and miraculously very little networking to be heard amongst the crowd! It was great to be joined by so many from the MA course at UWE, some who had handed in their final films that very day, and others who had only started their course that day.

Most importantly, the main reason for throwing the event in the first place was to raise some money for Bristol Refugee Rights, Pride without Borders. An amazing charity supporting queer refugees in our city. After the hostility seen around the UK over the summer, all we really wanted to do as a pride committee this year was to support those in need in our community, and at the same time bring people together to dance, be merry and celebrate their pride. Mission success.

Thank you so much to all that came and donated, and I think we might be seeing you again for another boogie next year!”

Thank you to the Silverback Films Pride Committee for organising, and everyone that joined.

Today (25 Sept) Silverback Films hosted a showcase for women, transgender, and non-binary freelance camera operators, working within the natural history film & TV industry.

It was an afternoon celebrating diverse filmmaking talent, and opportunity for our Senior Producers, Producers, and wider production teams to connect with those underrepresented behind the lens.

We recognise there’s a long way to go in making our industry more inclusive – and embracing diversity not only creates opportunities for underrepresented voices, but also enriches the stories we’re able to tell. We’re committed to nurturing up-and-coming, and underrepresented talent, and supporting more diversity behind our productions, within our workplace, and our industry as a whole.

Thank you to all those that attended.

We’re thrilled to announce the winner of our inaugural staff short film competition, shooting director Joe Fereday, and his film ‘Rodent’.

In 2021 we created an ongoing initiative to give our staff (outside of Producers or Series Producers) the chance to experience the full process of filmmaking. Entrants were tasked with pitching a creative short film that fit with Silverback’s environmental values alongside schedules, logistics, budgets, and staffing. For the winner – the opportunity to produce and direct their vision, while overseeing all staffing, finance, prep and post, helped along the way with support and mentors within Silverback Films… 

This year’s winner was Joe Fereday and we’re proud of his amazing film ‘Rodent’ – a cautionary tale about a rat caught up in a dystopian future of our own making. 

Joe joined Silverback Films in 2018, starting as a camera assist filming kingfishers on ‘Our Planet’ then creating short form content for the Netflix project, he has worked as part of the Emmy award winning cinematography team for ‘David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet‘ feature film and more recently on the ground-breaking ‘Life on our Planet‘ series. 

“The film ‘Rodent’ has been a labour love and I am really excited to share it with the world. The short film competition has been a brilliant initiative by Silverback and I can’t thank the company enough for this fantastic opportunity.”

With a huge amount of determination, creativity and passion he’s created a powerful film that’s now being showcased and nominated for awards at film festivals around the world, including Hamilton, FilmQuest, Seoul Animal Film Festival, Imagine Festival and Brighton Rocks.

Watch the trailer below > 

Behind the scenes of ‘Rodent‘. Interview with Joe Fereday.

Tell us a little about the film

With ‘Rodent’, I wanted to find an original and entertaining way to approach existential threats to humanity, namely climate change and AI.

“Think Wall-E meets 28 days later… but with rats!” 

Often documentaries about this are set in the now but what about seeing how the future might look like in a worst case scenario for humans? At its heart, the film is a cautionary tale. I wanted to hold a mirror up to see how exploring this world may make us question if this is something we really want. 

It’s told with the sensibilities of a twisted natural history sequence that plays out in the drama of a dystopian future. The project posed an opportunity to try something different outside of conventional wildlife films, take risks and see where else we can go telling new stories about the natural world. With the ultimate aim to engage and excite a more varied audience. 

We already know the answers to solve many of the issues we face today, yet we are in an ever narrowing margin to take action. The good news is it’s still possible, so it’s important to find new creative ways to keep this conversation at the forefront and not get fatigued by the momentous task at hand. 

What inspired you to enter the competition? 

The competition allowed me to try out an idea that was little outside of the box and a bit risky. Having worked on blue-chip, which sets such a high bar for filmmaking, I was really interested to take this approach to topics surrounding the Anthropocene but from a totally different angle. The film is a crossover of drama and natural history. Something that interests me, that I wanted to explore more.  

What did you most enjoy about making Rodent? 

The most rewarding thing about making ‘Rodent’ was creating a diverse team of up-and-coming filmmakers who wanted more hands-on experience. Every person really stepped up and brought something fresh to the table. The film wouldn’t have been possible without them. 

Every aspect of this film was created in Bristol. We filmed at a shop unit in The Galleries, a studio near Clifton and we used crew who all lived in the city and all the post-production was done at Films@59 on Whiteladies Road. 

Almost all the set materials were second-hand and after which were recycled/donated where possible. As a result, our carbon footprint was very low for this film and keeping things local didn’t affect the finished product. The opposite in fact, it made things a lot easier to achieve and more manageable. 

Any final thoughts?

Rats are brilliant. I wasn’t the biggest fan before making this film but having spent so much time caring, training and filming them they really are fun, intelligent and friendly animals that have gotten a bad reputation. 

Follow Joe on Instagram @JoeFereday

https://www.feredayfilms.com/

Orangutans, with their soulful eyes and gentle nature, have captured our hearts and minds for generations. In our new film, Secret Lives of Orangutans, we provide an intimate glimpse into the intricate inner lives of these magnificent apes.

The plight of orangutans is widely known. Habitat loss across their range has left the Sumatran orangutan population at around 14,000 and steadily declining. While there have been many films focussing on conservation and the threats orangutans face, Huw Cordey, the Director and Producer of Secret Lives of Orangutans wanted this project to be different:

“My goal was to spotlight the complexity of orangutan society and behaviour, revealing just how remarkable these creatures are. After all, it’s hard to truly care about something you don’t understand. My hope is that Secret Lives of Orangutans offers audiences a deeper appreciation for wild orangutans, as they’ve never seen them before.”

Helen Buckland, CEO of the Sumatran Orangutan Society said:

“This film is a captivating journey into the heart of the Sumatran rainforest. It is a beautiful portrayal of orangutans’ complex social lives, problem-solving abilities, and emotional depth. The filmmakers have captured stunning sequences of orangutans, alongside shots soaring over the breathtaking landscape, and a glimpse of the myriad biodiversity sharing these forests – give yourself a treat and immerse yourself in this glorious world! I have no doubt that the film will help catalyse more support to keep these magnificent animals thriving in the wild.”

The Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) and their dedicated partners are working on-the-ground in Sumatra – where our documentary was filmed – to protect orangutans and their precious rainforest homes.

Huw shared more about the making of our film in an special interview with Orangutan SOS – read more about their work to protect Sumatra’s Orangutans below…

Why Should We Protect Orangutans?

Orangutans are amazing creatures that deserve protection in their own right. But they also play a crucially important role in maintaining the health and resilience of the rainforests.

As they move through the forest, orangutans eat a variety of fruits and disperse the seeds far and wide. This natural process helps to maintain the diversity of the forest and gives rise to new life throughout the ecosystem. Without orangutans to carry out this vital role, the forest’s ability to regenerate and support a wide range of species would be greatly diminished.

A diverse forest is more resilient to changes and threats, such as disease, climate change, and natural disasters. With many plant species growing together, the loss of one does not lead to the collapse of the entire ecosystem. In this way, orangutans help maintain the delicate balance of life in the rainforest, supporting a web of interconnected species that rely on one another for survival.

How Do We Protect Orangutans?

Orangutans are at risk due to habitat fragmentation and forest degradation. This is primarily caused by human-made barriers, such as farmlands, roads and energy infrastructure. Unless these fragmented forests are protected and reconnected, some of these orangutan populations may disappear altogether.

The key to saving orangutans is preserving their forest home. SOS support their frontline partners in Sumatra to build resilience for orangutans, ecosystems and communities through conservation projects that benefit both people and wildlife. Their approach listens to the needs of local communities, ensuring they have a central role in programme planning and decision-making. Whether it’s creating wildlife corridors between fragmented forests or rewilding areas of degraded habitat, SOS and their partners work tirelessly to secure a flourishing future for wild orangutans.

How You Can Help

SOS has made great strides over the past two decades to protect orangutans and conserve Sumara’s rainforests, but there is still much work to be done.

If you feel inspired by Secret Lives of Orangutans and would like to safeguard the future of wild orangutans, you can support SOS at: www.orangutans-sos.org/get-involved

We’re thrilled to share that ‘Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story’ has won the ‘Best People and Nature Film’ Award at the 2024 Jackson Wild Media Awards.

Our heartwarming film tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a wild otter and a man set in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland. It’s a spectacular showcase of the beauty of the natural world and the effect it can have on our lives during the unlikeliest of moments…

Considered the highest bar of achievement in natural history filmmaking, the Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling. Over 500 films entered the competition in 2024, with over 1,100 category entries from 74 different countries around the world. Finalists were selected by more than 200 international judges who together screened over 1,000 hours of media. Winners were announced during the Awards Gala on Thursday, September 5th, 2024 at the AFI Theatre in Silver Spring, MD.

We’re incredibly proud ‘Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story’ stood out in this prestigious celebration of the best of nature filmmaking. Watch it on DisneyPlus and Hulu in the U.S (stay tuned for UK release dates).

Our new film, Secret Lives of Orangutans narrated by Sir David Attenborough premiered today (22 August). It’s the world’s first feature length film about wild orangutans – watch it now only on Netflix.

Following the success of Our Planet, also produced by Silverback Films, and Netflix’s most-watched natural history documentary series of all time, the new documentary picks up the story of two of the Sumatran orangutans from Our Planet Jungles six years later.

In 2019, audiences were captivated by eighteen-year-old Ellie and her three-year-old daughter Eden. This film rejoins them as Eden embarks on the most challenging period of her life. With the bond between mother and child being one of the longest and strongest in the natural world, it follows Eden’s journey towards independence, a critical phase that takes nearly ten years in an orangutan’s life.

Secret Lives of Orangutans shares an intimate look of Ellie with her new one-day-old baby boy, Emen. As Ellie focuses on her newborn, nine-year-old Eden must begin to navigate the jungle on her own using the skills she’s learned from her mother. The film features several other orangutans, including Eden’s cousin Pepito, who is also starting his journey to independence; Friska, Eden’s grandmother and the world’s oldest known wild orangutan; Suli the Unflanged, a determined yet subordinate male; Split Lip Otto, a once-dominant flanged male; Titan, the newly crowned flanged male; and Rakus, an orangutan who recently gained global attention as scientists observed him treating a battle wound with a medicinal plant (the first time a creature in the wild has been recorded doing this behaviour).

Keith Scholey, Executive Producer and Co-Director of Silverback Films, said, “Secret Lives of Orangutans reveals the remarkable similarities between us, humans, and orangutans as never before. I’ve been in the business for over 40 years and this film is truly unique in that it feels like you’re watching a human drama, rather than a wildlife documentary. There’s no other natural history film like it.”

Huw Cordey, Secret Lives of Orangutans Director, said, “We’re thrilled to give viewers this never-before-seen perspective of one of our closest relatives. Orangutans are famously difficult to film in the wild – rarely, if ever, coming to the ground – and the swamp forests of Suaq are one the world’s most difficult places to film. The use of drones allowed us to capture unprecedented footage and rare behaviours. It’s a privilege to be able to share these intimate stories with the world.”

The documentary was filmed over two years in the swamp forests of Suaq, northern Sumatra, an area renowned for its high orangutan population and their unique tool-using behaviour. This ancient forest is home to over two hundred identifiable orangutans, forming part of a thirty-year research project. Throughout the filming, the crew worked closely with scientists, local guides and park rangers from Gunung Leuser National Park.

Secret Lives of Orangutans is produced by All3 Media’s Silverback Films, from Executive Producer Keith Scholey, Produced and Directed by Huw Cordey, with Production Manager Rebecca Coombs.