ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films is announcing today that British actor Daniel Craig will narrate ONE LIFE, the forthcoming theatrical feature film release from ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth and Magic Light Pictures, marking the first time the actor has lent his voice to a documentary feature. IM Global is handling worldwide distribution rights.

Directed by Michael Gunton and Martha Holmes from the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Natural History Unit, and featuring music from award winning composer George Fenton, ONE LIFE captures and celebrates the journey that all living things take from the moment they are born, to that most important of achievements - the delivery of the next generation.

The Chester-born actor will follow in the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough and John Hurt by bringing his own unique approach to natural history storytelling. Daniel Craig said: "I am very proud to be part of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth's film ONE LIFE. The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Natural History Unit have proven, year after year, that their documentary skills are second to none. For the filmmakers who spend their entire lives recording beautiful images of planet earth’s dwindling wildlife, I have only a sense of awe and a deep rooted respect. I am incredibly fortunate to have been given the chance to play a very small part in that process."

ONE LIFE is packed with filming firsts and almost every story featured in the film contains either an animal filmed for the first time, a behaviour that has been captured for the first time, or a new filming technique which has been applied to give a familiar scene an unfamiliar look.

ONE LIFE Producer Martin Pope said, "It was wonderful working with Daniel Craig on ONE LIFE. He has a tremendous voice which perfectly mixes authority and emotion; and I know he will really engage and move the audience. He’s one of the UK’s true stars and we’re delighted he wanted to be part of the film."

Amanda Hill, Executive Producer, said: β€œONE LIFE is the first of three major motion pictures from ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films, with Walking With Dinosaurs 3D and Africa 3D set to follow, so it’s fitting that a heavyweight star such as Daniel is involved. He really does lift the storyteller’s contribution to another level.”

ONE LIFE will premiere in Japan in September 2011, where it will be distributed by entertainment distributor Avex Group. The film will then launch globally in countries including the UK, USA and Germany.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films bring the most astounding stories from the natural world to the big screen. Audiences are invited to join us on a journey of new discovery, meeting extraordinary characters and following their incredible adventures. ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films combine great storytelling with awe-inspiring HD film footage and moving scores from the world’s greatest composers to connect audiences with their planet.

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films represent the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Natural History Unit, the world’s largest natural history production house with a heritage of over 50 years of filmmaking. This expertise enables us to consistently push the boundaries of natural history filmmaking, setting the benchmark for this genre with landmark film credits including Deep Blue and Earth the movie. ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Earth Films have entertained, inspired and amazed audiences the world over with fantastic storytelling and we want our audience to continue the adventure with us.

About the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Natural History Unit
Based in Bristol, UK, the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Natural History Unit has been enthralling listeners and viewers around the world for over 50 years with its pioneering techniques to document the flora and fauna of the globe. Its programme makers specialise in capturing the living wonders of the world and continue to find new marvels on the planet. The unit is the world’s largest wildlife television and radio production house and holds the world’s largest archive of natural history film and sound recordings. It produces around 100 hours of television and 50 hours of radio a year, using a variety of formats including major landmark series, classical wildlife, animal and people documentaries, live broadcasts and presenter-led shows for adults and children.

About Magic Light Pictures
Martin Pope and Michael Rose set up Magic Light Pictures as an independent company to produce and distribute high quality films, as well as to build and manage children’s brands. In six years the company has produced five feature films as well as the acclaimed Oscar nominated film and merchandising programme of The Gruffalo. The company also runs the feature Producer Placement Programme with Skillset, assisting emerging producers to engage with the business of feature film production.

About IM Global
CEO Stuart Ford founded IM Global in 2007. The company is one of the leading film financing, sales and distribution companies in the world, championing a wide variety of cinema, including mainstream commercial, art house, foreign language and genre fare. The company is now comprised of six divisions: IM Global Opus, for mainstream, commercial cinema; IM Global Acclaim, for critically acclaimed arthouse and specialty cinema; IM Global Anthem, for the best of non-English language cinema from around the world; IM Global Octane, for branded genre fare; IM Global Apsara, a rights acquisition and distribution vehicle that serves the rapidly evolving Asian markets across growing theatrical, digital and VOD distribution platforms.; and AUTOMATIK, a production and financing joint venture with Alliance Films focused on films in the $5 million - $15 million range. Highlights of IM Global’s current slate include the $45 million DREDD, in 3D, which IM Global is co-financing with parent company Reliance Big Entertainment with Lionsgate distributing in the U.S.; SAFE, starring Jason Statham, which is financed by IM Global with Lionsgate distributing in the U.S.; WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D, financed by Reliance with Twentieth Century Fox distributing in the U.S. and the documentary feature ONE LIFE, narrated by Daniel Craig which will be released later this year; W.E., directed by Madonna; shark thriller DARK TIDE, starring Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez; Barry Levinson’s apocalyptic thriller THE BAY; and Sundance and Berlinale official selection, ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN. Other prominent successes the company has enjoyed are worldwide box office smash hit PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, Tom Ford’s critically acclaimed A SINGLE MAN, and special effects bonanza SKYLINE. In May 2010 Indian conglomerate Reliance ADA acquired a significant shareholding in the company.

Emma Finlay