“MYSTERY OF THE NILE” PRESENTS THE EPIC STORY OF THE FIRST-EVER COMPLETE DESCENT OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST RIVER IN STUNNING IMAX® CINEMATOGRAPHY
New Giant Screen Film from Orbita Max and Two-Time Oscar®-Nominated Producers MacGillivray Freeman Films Opens In Select IMAX® Theatres Starting February 18th
Laguna Beach, California, February 4, 2005 –
MacGillivray Freeman Films will release MYSTERY OF THE NILE,
the epic story of one of the greatest expeditions in modern times, to
select IMAX® theatres and large format cinemas beginning February
18. This highly anticipated international co-production from Barcelona-based
Orbita Max and two-time Oscar®-nominated filmmakers MacGillivray Freeman
Films (producers of the blockbuster adventure film EVEREST) combines
stunning giant screen cinematography with the breathtaking story of the
first-ever complete descent of the world’s deadliest river—the
Blue Nile.
Directed by award-winning documentarian Jordi Llompart in his large format debut and produced by Llompart and Greg MacGillivray, MYSTERY OF THE NILE presents this epic journey in 15/70 full-frame large format film. For 114 days, a team of explorers led by Pasquale Scaturro and Gordon Brown faced nearly insurmountable challenges as they made their way 3,260 miles down the Blue Nile and Nile river, traversing three countries in some of the world’s remotest regions. Deadly crocodiles and hippos, the world’s most dangerous whitewater rapids, gunfire from bandits, malaria, and temperatures topping 120°F are just some of the obstacles they faced---all while capturing their experience with an IMAX® camera and two videocams.
MYSTERY OF THE NILE is being distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films to more than 60 large format theatres worldwide during its first year of release and will eventually be seen in more than 150 giant screen theatres. MYSTERY OF THE NILE was first showcased last night at the world premiere in Valencia, Spain at L'Hemisferic, the city’s Science & Technology Museum. Today, the film premieres at the Discovery Channel IMAX Theatre in Berlin. The film’s North American premiere will be held February 8 at Loews IMAX Theatre in New York City, followed by the film’s worldwide release on February 18.
“After several long years and much hard work, we have reached the end of our journey,” says director Jordi Llompart, also founder of Orbita Max. “The creation of this film is the result of a remarkable creative collaboration between Orbita Max and MacGillivray Freeman Films, one that started nearly 2 years ago and that has proven to be a fantastic partnership. We are now extremely proud to share this film with audiences around the world and we hope they will be moved and inspired by the film’s bold spirit of discovery and beauty.”
Adds Mike Lutz, Director of Distribution at MacGillivray Freeman Films Distribution Company, “MYSTERY OF THE NILE has all the ingredients of a giant screen blockbuster and continues MacGillivray Freeman’s long tradition of distributing high quality, action-packed films that offer an educationally enriching experience. We are thrilled to be a part of this film.”
MacGillivray Freeman Films Distribution Company has coordinated an far-reaching marketing program for the film that includes the North American publication of a companion book by major New York publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a 15-city promotional tour with film star Pasquale Scaturro, and international and national promotions with film partners Teva, Eureka!, Ex Officio and Mountain Travel Sobek. Orbita Max and MacGillivray Freeman Films also produced a special behind-the-scenes documentary for the international television market.
MYSTERY OF THE NILE is a co-production of Orbita Max and MacGillivray Freeman Films and the fifth film in MacGillivray Freeman’s Great Adventure Film® series. MYSTERY OF THE NILE is written and directed by Jordi Llompart and produced by Llompart and Greg MacGillivray. Stephen Judson edited the film and served as script consultant; director of photography is Reed Smoot; the music is composed by David Giró and arranged by Steve Wood. The executive producers are Almuth Itzen and Harrison Smith. MYSTERY OF THE NILE is distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films.
More About Orbita Max
Orbita Max is an audiovisual production company founded by award-winning
Spanish journalist and filmmaker Jordi Llompart. Based in Barcelona, Spain,
the company produces documentaries in a variety of formats for different
mediums: cinema, television, internet and publishing. One of the main
activities of Orbita Max is producing large format documentaries for IMAX®
theatres. Orbita Max is playing a pioneering role in Spain by producing
MYSTERY OF THE NILE, the first Spanish giant screen production
in history.
More About MacGillivray Freeman
Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the largest, most experienced independent
producer and distributor of giant screen 70mm films in the world. Throughout
the company’s 40-year history, MFF films have won numerous international
awards including an Academy Award® nomination for Best Documentary
Short Subject in 2000 for DOLPHINS, and a 1995 nomination in
the same category for THE LIVING SEA. In 1998, the giant screen
film EVEREST achieved unprecedented acclaim and box office success
for a large format film. More recently, the company’s film CORAL
REEF ADVENTURE was named Best Film of the Year by the Giant Screen
Theater Association. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for
their artistry and successful blend of education and entertainment, as
well as their celebration of science and the natural world.
Contact: Lori Rick, MacGillivray Freeman Films
949-494-1055, lrick@macfreefilms.com
IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation.
Academy Award® is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences.
