We’re thrilled to share the official trailer for our Netflix series: The Dinosaurs.
Our new four-part documentary series, narrated by Morgan Freeman, charts the story of the rise and fall of the dinosaurs – where they came from, why they mattered, how they evolved, and how they met their ultimate fate.
We’ve reunited with executive producer Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment, and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (who previously collaborated with us on Life on Our Planet) to bring the age of dinosaurs to life.
The Dinosaurs packs in a deep roster of prehistoric stars and many lesser-known species drawn from the latest fossil research. From tiny proto‑dinosaurs like Marasuchus to giants like Plateosaurus and Mamenchisaurus, The Dinosaurs runs the gamut, illustrating how dinosaurs evolved across millennia in response to a volatile world. Armored icons such as stegosaurus and ankylosaurus square off against apex predators like allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex, while leviathans from Pliosaurus to mosasaurs prowl the oceans. Early feathered fliers, including Anchiornis and Longipteryx, point toward the dinosaurs still with us today: birds.
Silverback Films’ five-part natural history series Parenthoodpremieres in the United States on PBS from Wednesday 4 February to Wednesday 4 March, airing weekly at 8/7c as part of the long-running Nature strand.
Filmed over three years, across six continents and 23 countries, our series – narrated by Sir David Attenborough – reveals astonishing animal behaviours shaped by the environments in which families raise their young.
From grasslands and jungles to oceans and freshwater habitats, each episode explores the unique challenges parents face and how, in a rapidly changing world increasingly shaped by humans, the stakes for survival have never been higher.
“Parenthood is an extraordinary celebration of one of life’s great challenges: raising young,” said Silverback Films producer Jeff Wilson. “Working with the world’s best wildlife cinematographers and nature experts, we uncovered a huge number of fascinating and untold behaviours through incredible field craft and dedication. In an uncertain world, there are lessons to be learned from our animal characters that will resonate with all of us.”
For UK audiences, the full series is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
Silverback Films has once again been named one of Broadcast’s Best Places to Work in TV for 2026 – a recognition that celebrates the people, culture and values at the heart of our company.
Silverback Films attended the event in London to collect the award
The list highlights production companies across the UK creating exceptional workplaces, where people feel supported, included and empowered to do their best work. To be recognised again is something we’re incredibly proud of, particularly as a larger production company.
Jane Hamlin, COO & Director at Silverback Films, said: “At Silverback, we are committed to creating an inclusive culture. This isn’t just about fairness — it’s about unlocking the full potential of every person. When people feel respected, heard and valued, they do their best work, and the entire organisation grows stronger.”
As Silverback has grown, so too has our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We’re proud of our high staff retention, our focus on internal development and progression, and the openness, creativity and care that runs through the company.
We recognise that natural history filmmaking has not always reflected the diversity of the world it seeks to portray. That’s why we’re actively embedding equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all areas of the business as an ongoing, collective effort – including regular hub sessions where staff help shape our approach through open conversation and ideas.
Over the past year, teams have come together through a wide range of staff-led initiatives – from a full Mental Health Awareness Week to cultural and religious celebrations marking Ramadan, Lunar New Year, Easter and Christmas.
We celebrated Pride Month with cinema sessions, socials and fundraising, alongside year-round activity including Pride 365, the industry’s first queer-focused charity event supporting LGBTQ+ people and allies working or studying in film and television. We also marked Black History Month, including an insight day for young people in partnership with Bristol-based charity Black 2 Nature.
To support learning and growth, we ran a dedicated knowledge-sharing and upskilling month, alongside an internal mentoring programme. Our Green Team continues to drive sustainability initiatives across the company, alongside our role as an affiliate member of the Albert Sustainability Programme.
Community and giving back are central to our culture – from charity fundraising to ongoing support for organisations including Bristol Bears Community Foundation and Gympanzees. And we make time to celebrate too, with summer and Christmas showcases that bring everyone together.
Thank you to all our staff who continue to make Silverback a supportive, inclusive and inspiring place to work.
We’re thrilled our film Ocean with David Attenborough is on the BAFTA Film Awards long list in two categories: Best Documentary, and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Toby Nowlan.
Ocean with David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey, revealing that there is nowhere more vital for our survival, or more full of life, wonder and surprise, than the ocean. In the film, the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reflects on how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, he shows why a healthy ocean is essential to a stable and flourishing planet.
Released midway during the UN Decade of Ocean Science, the film has become a powerful cultural moment – sparking global conversation around ocean recovery and the urgent need for greater ocean protection.
The film smashed cinema box-office records and, since its streaming release on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu, has reached and inspired audiences worldwide.
Voting will now take place, with official nominations announced on Tuesday 27 January, ahead of the ceremony on Sunday 22 February.
We’re delighted to announce that Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story has received four nominations at the RTS Craft & Design Awards 2025, recognising exceptional creative and technical achievement across the production.
The RTS Craft & Design Awards celebrate the best behind-the-scenes talent working in UK television, and these nominations reflect the extraordinary craft that helped bring this intimate and emotional story to life.
Nominated Categories
Director – Non-Scripted Charlie Hamilton James
Music – Original Score (Non-Scripted) Erland Cooper
Photography – Non-Scripted Charlie Hamilton James, Johnny Rolt & Bertie Gregory
Sound – Non-Scripted Kate Hopkins, Graham Wild, Renzo Spiteri, Paul Ackerman & Ellie Bowler
A celebration of craft
Produced by Silverback Films, with Jeff Wilson as Executive Producer and Rebecca Coombs as Production Manager, Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story was filmed on the Shetland Islands and tells the remarkable true story of an unexpected bond between a man and a wild otter.
This deeply personal narrative is brought to life through beautifully sensitive directing, evocative original music, immersive photography and meticulous sound design.
These four RTS nominations shine a light on the exceptional artistry, dedication and technical mastery of the teams who shaped the emotional heart and cinematic beauty of the film.
We’re incredibly proud of everyone involved and honoured to see the film recognised across such a breadth of craft categories.
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is available to watch now on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu.
We’re thrilled to share that Ocean with David Attenborough has taken home two Critics Choice Documentary Awards, winning Best Science / Nature Documentary and Best Cinematography.
The awards were announced on Sunday 9 November 2025 at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards ceremony in New York City, which brings together leading filmmakers, storytellers and industry professionals to celebrate excellence in documentary filmmaking.
Tenth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Sunday, Nov. 09, 2025, at the Edison Ballroom in New York, honoring the finest achievements in documentary filmmaking and non-fiction television. (Diane Bondareff/AP Content Services for Critics Choice Documentary Awards)
Producer & Director Toby Nowlan attended the event to accept the awards on behalf of the entire Ocean team – including the world-class crew, partners and collaborators who helped bring this landmark production to life.
From the outset, our ambition was to create a film that not only reveals the wonder of the ocean, but reminds the world that its future – and ours – are inseparable. To see Ocean recognised for both its storytelling and its visual excellence is an incredible honour.
The award for Best Cinematography recognises the exceptional work of Doug Anderson and Toby Strong, whose breathtaking footage brings audiences eye-to-eye with the ocean’s most elusive species and immerses viewers. Their craft and commitment were central to capturing the emotional power and cinematic depth of the film.
Presented by National Geographic and produced by Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios, Ocean with David Attenborough is a landmark feature documentary that explores the state of our ocean at a pivotal moment in time. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the film reveals the ocean’s extraordinary beauty, complexity and resilience – from vast blue wildernesses and remote coral reefs to the deep, unseen world that lies far below the surface. Ocean brings together state-of-the-art cinematography, cutting-edge science and powerful storytelling to show how the ocean is changing, what is at stake, and crucially how recovery is possible.
Silverback Films Co-Founder, Keith Scholey, being presented the RTS Fellowship Award by RTS Chair Jane Turton. (credit: RTS/Cutleaf Productions)
We’re thrilled to announce that Silverback Films Co-Founder Keith Scholey has been presented with a fellowship from the Royal Television Society (RTS). The ceremony took place last night (Wednesday 5th November) during the annual RTS Patrons’ Dinner at One Great George Street, and recognises industry luminaries who have made a remarkable, meaningful and enduring impact on UK television. The award was handed out by Jane Turton, RTS Chair and CEO of All3Media.
Keith Scholey at the World Premiere of Ocean with David Attenborough
Born and raised in East Africa, Keith qualified as a Zoologist with both a degree and PhD from Bristol University. In 1982 began working with the BBC Natural History Unit as a researcher and subsequently became a producer. In 1998 he was appointed the Head of the Natural History Unit and then In 2002 he was appointed Controller of Specialist Factual, responsible for BBC Natural History, Science, History, Arts, Business and Religious in house productions. In 2006 he was appointed the Controller of Factual Production, responsible for all BBC ‘in house’ Factual television production across England and also the Deputy Chief Creative Officer for Vision Productions. In 2008 he left the BBC to pursue an independent career in natural history cinema and television production.
Keith’s work has brought the wonders of the natural world to millions of viewers across the globe, inspiring awe, awareness, and action for our planet. Productions he’s been responsible have been recognised for industry leading awards including the Emmys, BAFTA, RTS, Wildscreen Panda and Jackson Hole.
Keith is co-director and executive producer of ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’, a co-director and producer of ‘Disneynature: Sea Lions of the Galapagos’ and producer of ‘Disneynature: Guardians of the Galapagos’. His other recent credits include series producer of the Netflix series ‘Life on Our Planet’ and executive producer of Netflix’s series ‘Our Planet II’. He is a series producer of first season of ‘Our Planet’, executive producer of the BBC One series ‘A Perfect Planet’, ‘The Mating Game’ and ‘The Earthshot Prize’ and National Geographic’s feature ‘Billy and Molly’. He also is a director of the Netflix feature film ‘David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet’.
RTS Fellows L-R: Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Rosie Jones, Emma Gormely and Stephen Merchant (credit: RTS/Cutleaf Productions)
We’re so proud to see his extraordinary contribution to television recognised with this fellowship, joining an esteemed list of 2025 recipients including Matt Brittin, ex-President, Google EMEA; Charlie Brooker, award-winning Screenwriter and Producer; Richard Cowles, Managing Director, Lifted Entertainment (part of ITV Studios); Stacey Dooley, Presenter and Journalist; Emma Gormley, Managing Director, ITV Studios Daytime; James Graham, Playwright and Screenwriter; Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Journalist and Presenter, Channel 4 News; and Sarah Rose, President of Channel 5 and UK Regional Lead, Paramount Global.
2024 Fellowship recipients Rosie Jones, Comedian, Writer, and Actor; and Stephen Merchant, Comedian, Actor, Writer, and Director, also attended the Patrons’ Dinner to celebrate their Awards.
Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “The RTS Fellowships have recognised some amazing creatives, practitioners and leaders over the years, and this year is no different. From landmark series and momentous news stories, to groundbreaking innovations in TV and technology, it was fantastic to come together last night to celebrate their many achievements. We’re sure their work will continue to inspire the next generation of talent in our industry.”
We’re excited to share the trailer for our brand-new four part series for BBC One and iPlayer: Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles which follows wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin as he reveals hidden wildlife gems from across the four countries of the UK.
Tune into the first episode on BBC One this Sunday 12th October at 6.15pm.
Here’s an interview with Hamza, diving into our year-long journey where he shares some of the highlights and challenges of filming wildlife of the British Isles – as well as his aspirations for the series.
Why did you want to explore the British Isles specifically?
The British Isles are one of the most important groups of islands worldwide when it comes to wildlife and we have some incredible species that I think are worth filming. As it’s so close to home, it’s something that I love and know very well, as I’ve been filming it for at least the last 20 years.
What was the most special moment you captured whilst you were traveling the British Isles?
Everything, but that’s not an answer!
I absolutely loved filming sharks. I’m normally there with a long lens, sat on the side of a jeep filming wildlife, but to be given the opportunity to pick up an underwater camera, go out into the Celtic deep, 35 miles from mainland Wales and film blue sharks for the very first time, was out of this world. It was so special and to see them so close and then bumping my dome on my camera was just so beautiful and to be able to share that with the public is fantastic.
Hamza listens to birdsong at dawn, in an ancient woodland on Dartmoor (Image: BBC/Silverback Films/Ellie Hilton)
Was there anything that you saw that you thought you would never get to see, let alone capture on camera?
There’s so many things in this series that I had a wishlist to try and film, and the prime example is Bitterns. I am an avid birder, I hear them all the time, I’ve seen them a handful of times, but to be able to witness and film a mating sequence like that was so beautiful. Especially the booming, I personally feel that no one’s ever really filmed it like that before, so it was really incredible.
For probably the first time in the UK, we filmed blue fin tuna off the coast of Devon, seen in such good quality. They were so close that we were able to film them from land, we didn’t even need to go out on a boat to get it, that’s a first as well.
What was it like filming with your nieces and encouraging their enthusiasm for wildlife?
It’s wonderful to be able to share the natural world with the next generation. We should be educating them about it, so they have a chance to take care of it in the future when it’s their turn. To able to spend that good uncle-niece time with both of them, and seeing their smiles, really put things into perspective.
You’ll see in the sequence one of them says, “You look stressed,” and I’m like, “I am stressed”, because I’m thinking about the production and what if the badgers don’t come out. But to see it from her perspective, was like a breath of fresh air, and reminded me that I should be enjoying this, I shouldn’t be panicking. And lo and behold, the badgers turned up and you see them just beaming with smiles and I’m beaming too, I think I even danced at the end of it, I was so happy.
A bluebell wood on a Wildlife Trust reserve in Sussex
What was the trickiest animal to capture or which ones of the longest capture?
We had roughly two days to capture each sequence, and I would say the most difficult factor was probably the weather. When we were out in the Wirral, we thought we were going to get a beautiful high tide coming in and going out, but then the heavens opened. It was horrendous weather coming through but it kind of played to our favour. We kept on filming and it brought a surge, so the tide was even higher and the birds congregated even more.
The weather in the UK, as we all know, can sometimes play havoc, but you’ve just got to roll with it and you’ve got to play to your strengths. I didn’t always win. I didn’t always capture the animal, but that’s okay because it’s Mother Nature.
Did you meet anybody while you were traveling the British Isles who particularly inspired you?
There are so many people that I met throughout this series that opened my eyes to a whole new world and they inspired me in so many different ways. The one that comes to mind is Nigel Hand, the gentleman who absolutely loves adders. Adders have a bad reputation. However, Nigel paints a beautiful picture of this gentle creature, where all they want is to be left alone in order for them to reproduce. You see Nigel break down for his love of adders and because he’s unsure about their future. He’s been working so hard for the past 15 years to bring their numbers back up, and it’s wonderful to see that.
You also meet Pam and Tim, a beautiful couple that showed me an animal that is new to science and that’s found here in the British Isles and it just filled me with joy knowing that there are still more animals to discover. It’s a little cordyceps, that lives on a spider called ‘Gibellula attenboroughii’, is the Latin name, and it’s just phenomenal to be able to hear stuff like that.
How important do you think it is that we come together to enjoy and protect nature?
For most people, if they don’t know about the natural world that’s around us, it’s very easy to turn a blind eye to it. My goal in this series is to try and spread the word of the natural world to as many people as possible, to give them the opportunity to feel an emotional connection to it and hopefully that means they will start to care about it too.
What makes British wildlife so special? And do you think that it gets overlooked in favour of more exotic wildlife?
British wildlife is often overlooked because it we’re such a small island compared to the rest of the world, but in my opinion we have just as good, if not better wildlife in the UK. Because it’s such a small group of islands, we can look after it so much better, but it also means we can affect it so much easier. What I want is for people to understand that we should be affecting it in a positive way.
Throughout the series, you see me speaking to a lot of people who are doing some real good work for the natural world here in the UK, and hopefully that means more habitats, more biodiversity, better wildlife.
What do you hope viewers take away from this series?
I really hope whoever’s watching this series thinks about how wonderful the natural world is around us, how accessible it can be to all of us. You can see wildlife everywhere – if you’re in the middle of a city centre you can see wildlife, in the Hebrides you can see wildlife, if you’re in a cave you can see wildlife. I want them to see my joy, my nerdiness for the natural world, my childlike wonder of Mother Nature and that I’m learning along the way. I’m forever learning. I will never stop learning and may the people who are watching this documentary learn something from it as well.
After seven decades filming every aspect of the natural world, David Attenborough delivers his greatest message of hope in our spectacular new film,Ocean with David Attenborough.
The powerful documentary film from Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios is set for release as a global cinema event from 8 May, which also coincides with David Attenborough’s 99th birthday.
Ocean with David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. In the film the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.
Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.
Ocean with David Attenborough will invite audiences worldwide to come together to experience Attenborough’s untold story of the ocean on the big screen. Altitude will release the film in the UK & Ireland and have partnered with Piece of Magic Entertainment to release the film in the rest of the world, including in Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and South Africa. Additional countries are still to be announced. Visit Altitude.film/Ocean for more.
The film will be available globally on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu later this year.
The Global Cinema Event is timed ahead of World Ocean Day, June’s United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France, and midway through the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). As world leaders decide the fate of our ocean, Ocean with David Attenborough will show why ocean recovery is vital for stabilising our climate and securing a healthier future for us all, and how marine protection – if immediately implemented – can help to turn the tide.
David Attenborough 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.”
Ocean with David Attenborough is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production, in association with All3Media International, National Geographic, and Minderoo Pictures. The film is directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan. The film is co-produced by Arksen & 10% for the Ocean, Don Quixote Foundation, National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Revive Our Ocean, and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Responding to the issues facing the ocean as featured in the film, one of the film’s partners, Dynamic Planet, is launching a new global initiative, Revive Our Ocean, to turn inspiration into action. The initiative supports coastal communities worldwide to protect and restore their ocean backyards.
We’re proud to share that Silverback Films has once again made Broadcast’s ‘Best Places to Work in TV’ 2025 Winners list. The awards celebrate those creating great workplaces and setting a high standard in the TV industry.
We attended the Best Places to Work in TV event in London last week, joining production companies from across the country to hear what matters to employees, and in coming together to share positive initiatives and ideas to support talent and improve wellbeing.
