BURBANK, Calif., LONDON and PARIS, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Disneynature has acquired the North American and Mexican distribution rights to the exciting new underwater film "OceanWorld 3D," the first feature-length nature documentary ever filmed and released in 3D, it was announced today by Jean-Francois Camilleri, executive vice president and general manager for Disneynature, and Francois Mantello, chairman of 3D Entertainment.

The film is presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the legendary Captain Jacques- Yves Cousteau, and was directed and produced respectively by veteran filmmakers Jean- Jacques & Francois Mantello ("Sharks 3D," "Ocean Wonderland 3D," "Dolphins and Whales 3D: Tribes of the Ocean"). This deal marks the first collaboration between Disneynature and 3D Entertainment, a company founded in 2001 to produce unique and immersive 3D story-driven experiences for audiences of all ages. "OceanWorld 3D," an 85-minute feature film, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Annual Film Market last month, and will be released theatrically in France and Russia starting this August. The film's North America debut will be announced at a later date.

Commenting on the announcement, Camilleri said, "We are honored to be working with the film's ambassador, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and the renowned underwater documentarians the Mantello Brothers in bringing this extraordinary film to moviegoers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is exactly the kind of film that Disneynature is striving to make, and it delivers an incomparable level of quality and craftsmanship. 3D Entertainment set out to create the most extraordinary underwater adventure ever captured on film, and they have exceeded all expectations with 'OceanWorld 3D.'"

Jean-Michel Cousteau and the Mantello Brothers added, "We had various distribution options for this film, but Disney's overwhelming reaction made this a simple decision for us. With its tremendous commitment to 3D and its new Disneynature label, Disney is the perfect home for 'OceanWorld 3D.' We applaud Jean-Francois Camilleri, Dick Cook and Mark Zoradi for their involvement in the protection of the underwater world, as well as their strong creative instincts and impressive business acumen."

"OceanWorld 3D" takes moviegoers on an awesome journey that captures the beauty and diversity of the oceans - the source of all life on our planet - and inspires them to protect its fragile ecosystem and inhabitants. Guided by a sea turtle, viewers will enjoy a close-up look at her fascinating world from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Argentina's Peninsula Valdez to Mexico's Roca Partida Island, home to thousands of sharks. They will witness some of the most unforgettable scenes of life beneath the waves ever captured: the manta ray's enchanting ballet, the noble procession of hammerhead sharks; the lionfish's relentless hunt; dolphins playing algae-soccer; the astonishing beauty of the Spanish dancer sea slug and leafy sea dragon; and an exceptional encounter with the largest cetaceans on the planet. The film is the result of seven years of production, 25 international expeditions and 200 hours of footage shot exclusively in the wild in 3D.

"OceanWorld 3D" is presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau and endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme. Produced by 3D Entertainment and Gavin McKinney Underwater Productions, it is a Mantello Brothers Film with underwater cinematography by Gavin McKinney, and featuring an original score by Christophe Jacquelin.

About Disneynature

Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in over 60 years, was launched in April 2008 to bring the world's top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife subjects and stories with theatrical audiences. EARTH, the first film to premiere domestically under the new label on Earth Day 2009, garnered a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary. Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1949 and 1960, winning 8 Academy Awards (R). For more information about Disneynature, go to: www.disney.com/nature

About 3D Entertainment

3D Entertainment is a fast-growing independent company focused on the production and distribution of unique and innovative underwater-themed 3D films. The company has developed an original growth strategy based on the overall control of all production- and post-production-related aspects of its 3D adventures. At its inception, the company developed an ambitious plan to produce both a feature-length documentary, "OceanWorld 3D", and an "edutainment" film series for IMAX(R) theatres ("Ocean Wonderland 3D", "Sharks 3D" and "Dolphins and Whales 3D"), which have proven highly successful, cumulatively generating in excess of USD 68 million to date at the box office. The company is based in London with a satellite office in Paris. For more information on 3D Entertainment, please go to http://www.3DEfilms.com

    Press Contacts:
    For: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures:
    Jasmine Madatian, +1-818-560-5610, jasmine.madatian@disney.com

    For: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International:
    Michelle Sewell, +1-818-560-3173, michelle.sewell@disney.com

    For: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France:
    Floriane Mathieu, +33 1-64-17-57-56, floriane.mathieu@disney.com

    For: 3D Entertainment:
    Brian McWilliams, +1-213-415-7400, bmcwilliams@spellcom.com

    For: 3D Entertainment:
    Alexandra Body, +44 20-7681-2357, alexbody@3defilms.com

SOURCE 3D Entertainment; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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