Ocean with David Attenborough, co-produced by Revive Our Ocean, Wins Two Creative Arts Emmy® Awards
The celebrated documentary, nominated for six Emmy Awards, received honors for cinematography and sound editing
Ocean with David Attenborough, co-produced by Revive Our Ocean, Wins Two Creative Arts Emmy® Awards
The celebrated documentary, nominated for six Emmy Awards, received honors for cinematography and sound editing
WASHINGTON, DC (September 12, 2026) — A full-length documentary film shining light on both the beauty of the sea, and the ways in which humans are depleting its riches, was honored with two Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the September 5, 2026 Los Angeles ceremony. Co-produced by Revive Our Ocean, Ocean with David Attenborough was honored with 2026 trophies for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program.
“The ocean is getting the profile it deserves with these Emmy nominations and wins,” said Kristin Rechberger, founder of Dynamic Planet and Revive Our Ocean, and an Executive Producer for the film. “In an era dominated by grim headlines, Ocean with David Attenborough delivers a vital message: the ocean is not doomed, and marine protection is a proven, actionable solution. If we act now to meet the global goal of protecting 30% of our ocean by 2030, we can write the planet’s greatest comeback story.”
The film was initially nominated for: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special; Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program; Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score); Outstanding Narrator; Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program; and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program.
National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Pristine Seas founder Enric Sala — who served as an Executive Producer and Scientific Advisor for the film — remarked, “This Emmy recognition is a testament to the transformative power of visual storytelling. Ocean with David Attenborough was created to reconnect people with the wonder of our marine world, and to inspire them to turn passion into action. The message of the film couldn’t be clearer: we’re bringing the ocean to the brink of collapse, but we can bring it back to life, if we let it.”
The film marks the first collaboration between prominent environmentalist Sir David Attenborough and National Geographic. Blending the latest science with spectacular sequences of coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, it reveals why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing. The film details the importance of the ocean for life on Earth, the impact of industrial fishing and ocean warming on marine life, and the benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs) to the sea, people and our climate.
The 2026 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program honored talented artists who worked for years to tell the impactful story of ocean protection. Doug Anderson, Director of Underwater Photography, and Toby Strong, Cinematography captured the ocean’s vast wonders, bringing it to life for global audiences. At Films@59, Sound Editors George Fry and Roy Noy, and Foley Artists Jonathon Cawte and Chris Domaille, immersed viewers in the narrative through sound, mirroring the moments of hope and devastation that define our modern ocean.
One of the most talked-about film sequences provides a glimpse into how humans destroy the ocean. The most detailed, cinematic footage of bottom trawling ever captured shocked audiences as they witnessed the industrial fishing technique ripping up the seafloor. Captured in visceral detail, the film reveals how the practice — which involves dragging weighted nets across the bottom of the ocean — leaves a trail of devastation and results in significant waste, as unintended catch (called ‘bycatch’) is killed and thrown overboard. Peer-reviewed research, published earlier this year by Pristine Seas revealed that bottom trawling costs European society up to €16 billion annually.
“Science tells us that bottom trawling — by churning the sediment on the seafloor — produces carbon dioxide emissions on the scale of global aviation every year,” said Sala. “The film shows the heart-wrenching side of the destructive practice — the heavy nets underwater, the fish fleeing for their lives, the desolate aftermath. It allows people to make up their own minds about whether bottom trawling is an acceptable form of hunting marine wildlife.”
“Banning bottom trawling in marine protected areas would be the greatest gift to small-scale European fishers. Effective marine protected areas are fish factories; when fish have safe homes to grow big and reproduce, they spill over and help replenish fishing grounds,” said Rechberger.
The documentary played in theaters globally starting May 8, 2025, which coincided with Attenborough’s 99th birthday. The film premiered on National Geographic Channel on June 7, 2025, and is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
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 directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan. It 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.
Screenings for Educators
Ocean with David Attenborough helps viewers reflect deeply on the ocean’s significance, the threats it faces and the solutions that can ensure its protection. While our planet’s future can sometimes feel bleak, efforts to conserve it offer glimmers of hope. Educators, universities, museums and libraries can be part of the solution by inspiring others to be the ocean stewards of tomorrow. Click here to see our Discussion Guide and learn more about how to request a free screening from National Geographic.
Screenings for Non-Commercial Purposes (community screenings and events)
Revive Our Ocean has facilitated Ocean with David Attenborough screenings for community leaders in over 70 countries and continues to provide access for those who want to host a screening.