Audiences will splash into a new giant-screen adventure when Humpback Whales arrives at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s IMAX® Theatre on February 13—the nationwide release date. Under the helm of two-time Academy Award®-nominated director Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest), MacGillivray Freeman Films brings its legendary giant-screen storytelling to one of the most enormous and vastly fascinating creatures on earth.
Narrated by two-time Golden Globe nominee Ewan McGregor and presented by Pacific Life, Humpback Whales is an immersive ocean adventure that invites audiences to dive head-first into the mysterious realm of these 55-foot, 50-ton aquatic mammals. In a splashing, musical mix of stunning imagery, underwater splendor and scientific exploration, the film asks the compelling question: what might life be like from a humpback’s point of view. Once feared as monsters, and very nearly hunted to extinction, today humpbacks are in the midst of a slow but remarkable recovery.
“People have a natural fascination with whales, whether it is because of their size, their intelligence or their mystery,” said Becky Facer, Fernbank’s environmental programs manager. “The popularity of last year’s special exhibition Whales: Giants of the Deep proved just that. This IMAX® film is a perfect follow-up, highlighting one of the largest and most breathtaking whale species through mesmerizing cinematography. Humpback Whales dives deep into the world of whales to discover what makes them so captivating.”
Set in the spectacular waters of Alaska, Hawaii and the remote islands of Tonga, this ocean adventure offers audiences an up-close look at how these whales communicate, sing, feed, play and take care of their young. Join a team of researchers as they unlock the secrets of the humpback and find out why humpbacks are the most acrobatic of all whales, why they sing their haunting songs, and why these intelligent animals migrate up to 10,000 miles round-trip every year.
“Whales are awesome animals,” says director, Greg MacGillivray. “They are critical to the ecological health and survival of the ocean, and since they are among the largest animals to ever live on earth, there is no better subject for audiences to experience life-size on the giant screen.”
Adds executive producer Tennyson Oyler, VP of Brand Management for Pacific Life: “Humpback whales are at the center of an environmental story that offers great promise. With the end of commercial whaling, humpbacks are steadily recovering from near extinction. This film transports audiences into their mysterious world for a close-up look at how truly remarkable these animals really are.”
Humpback Whales marks the prolific large-format film company’s first film focused exclusively on whales, following such giant-screen hits as The Living Sea, Dolphins, Coral Reef Adventure and To The Arctic. The MacGillivray Freeman Films team took it as an occasion to apply all of their cumulative cinematic experience to the telling of one of the most compelling wildlife stories of our time: how humpbacks were brought back from the brink of destruction to set off a new wave of scientific discovery and human fascination with their one-of-a-kind, gargantuan beauty. Humpback Whales is the third film to come out under MacGillivray Freeman’s One World One Ocean series, following To The Arctic andJourney to the South Pacific.
The film is family friendly and has a run time of 40 minutes.
Humpback Whales will show daily at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s IMAX® Theatre from February 13 until June 18, 2015. Humpback Whales will show in the IMAX Theatre opposite Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland (Galapagos closes March 5). IMAX tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $11 for children 12 and younger, and $8 for Museum members. Upgrade to a Value Pass (includes IMAX and Museum admission) to see The Power of Poison and enjoy two great experiences with one visit. (See Value Pass prices at fernbankmuseum.org.)
About Humpback Whales
A MacGillivray Freeman film presented by Pacific Life, Humpback Whales is directed by Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest) and produced by Shaun MacGillivray (To The Arctic, Grand Canyon Adventure). Filmed with 15perf / 65mm IMAX® cameras, Humpback Whales is written by Stephen Judson (Everest, To The Arctic) with a musical score by Steve Wood (Journey to the South Pacific, To The Arctic). A One World One Ocean production.
About Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s IMAX® Theatre
Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the 5-story-tall Rankin M. Smith Sr. IMAX® Theatre are located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Call 404.929.6400 or visitfernbankmuseum.org to purchase tickets.
