Project Manta
“Although the whole point of Project Manta is that we don't know very much about manta rays, there's still a host of fascinating facts in this visually splendid hour...spectacular locations and even more spectacular footage of the rays.”
The Sunday Age, 4 March 2012
Synopsis
Manta rays are giant ocean wanderers, weighing up to two tons. And with the largest brain to body size of any living fish, these mesmerizingly graceful creatures are smart. They curiously interact with people, travel vast distances, and show surprisingly complex behaviour. But mantas are under threat, and this at a time when they could be key indicators of our rapidly changing world.
Join Australian biologist Dr. Kathy Townsend and her PROJECT MANTA team on their journey to manta hotspots in Mexico, Micronesia, the Maldives and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef where they discover breathtaking feeding frenzies and rare mating rituals.
About
Year of Production:
2011
Duration:
1 x 52 minutes
Broadcast & Production Partners:
ABC Australia, National Geographic Channel, WDR Germany & ARTE
Distribution
Orange Smarty
Brighton Media Centre
15-17 Middle Street
Brighton, BN1 1AL
UK
ph +44 (0) 1273 840 928
email: info@orangesmarty.com
All footage & excerpt inquiries:
Kaufmann Productions
Links
Project Manta Study Facebook Page
on Nat Geo Wild known as ‘Manta Mystery’
Project Manta on ABC TV
Study Guide
Awards
Award for Creative Excellence
Nature & Wildlife Documentaries
US International Film & Video Festival
USA, June 2011
Best TV Program mid-budget - Finalist
IWFF - International Wildlife Film Festival
USA, May 2011
1. Prize: Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Feature Documentary
10th Celebrate the Sea Festival (CTS),
Indonesia, September 2011
Best Conservation Program - Finalist
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
USA, October 2011
Best Documentary Science, Technology & the Environment - Finalist
ATOM Awards,
Australia, October 2011
Best Professional Underwater Documentary - Finalist
38th Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous-Marine (World Festival of Underwater Pictures)
France, October 2011
Silver Award Wildlife & Nature Films
ACS (Australian Cinematographers Society) State Awards
Australia, November 2011
3rd Place for Best Professional Underwater Production
15th International Underwater Film Festival
Serbia, December 2011
Award of Distinction
International Underwater Film Competition
Méditerranea - Festival International de l'Image Sous Marine et de l'Aventure
France, March 2012
Best Documentary Ocean Conservation/Marine Sciences - Finalist
9th San Francisco Ocean Film Festival
USA, March 2012
Best TV Documentary Nature & Wildlife - Finalist
New York Festivals
USA, April 2012
Eureka Award for Best Science Journalism 2012
Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
Australia, August 2012
Best Documentary Marine & Earth Sciences
BLUE Ocean Film Festival,
USA, September 2012
