Our new documentary film Ocean with David Attenborough had it’s World Premiere at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall last night, with Sir David Attenborough and King Charles III in attendance alongside many special guests.
It was an unforgettable evening bringing together influential filmmakers and celebrities, business and political leaders, and those in the conservation world. Silverback Films Co-founder and Director Keith Scholey took the stage to welcome guests and thank those that made the film possible, including Sir David Attenborough, applauding his contribution to factual TV and conservation.
Ocean with David Attenborough shows there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. Stunning, immersive cinematography reveals 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.
Film Directors Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield walked the blue carpet, speaking to media about the importance of Attenborough’s most important film yet. At the premiere, they were joined by the talented crew and wider production team to celebrate the release of the film in cinemas worldwide from 8 May 2025 (ahead of it’s global release on National Geographic and Disney+ on 8 June).
Filming kit from the making of Ocean with David Attenborough was on display at an exhibition for guests, with our filmmakers giving hands-on demos alongside unseen behind-the-scenes footage. We were joined by world-leading marine science and engineering experts NOC, showcasing some the cutting-edge science technologies used to explore our ocean, with NOC’s underwater robot, known popularly as Boaty McBoatface, putting in a cameo appearance.
Actor and travel presenter Sir Michael Palin, former US secretary of state and climate envoy John Kerry, actress Felicity Jones, and astronaut Tim Peake were also among the celebrities and well known figures at the film’s premiere.
Environmental advocates including Alice Aedy (Founder of Earthrise Studio, Kristin Rechberger (Founder and CEO Revive Our Ocean, Exec producer of Ocean with David Attenborough), Dr. Enric Sala (Executive Director Pristine Seas), Don MacNeish (COAST co-founder) and Theo James (Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency) also attended and met with King Charles III.
Additional notable guests in attendance at the World premiere in the evening included: Geri Horner, Ben Goldsmith & Jemima Jones, Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE, Meera Syal CBE, James Blunt, Cara and Poppy Delevingne, Georgia May Jagger, and Penny Lancaster.
FUTURE GENERATIONS PREMIERE
Earlier in the day, the Future Generations’ Premiere welcoming over a thousand students, teachers and school staff from across the UK. The screening included a Q&A hosted by Earth Minutes communicator and young ocean advocate Amelia Crews who chatted with film Director Toby Nowlan and one the film’s Scientific Advisors, National Geographic Explorer Enric Sala.
The Future Generations’ Premiere and World Premiere of Ocean with David Attenborough were sponsored by UBS and People’s Postcode Lottery.
Ocean with David Attenborough is being released as a Global Cinema Event from 8 May – visit www.oceanfilm.net. The film will be available globally on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu from 8 June.
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 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.