BLUE PLANET II

Oceans cover 71% of our planet, and astonishingly, we still know less about them than we do about Mars or the entire cosmos. An indispensable guide to the untamed richness of our world is David Attenborough, who, as tradition dictates, takes on the role of both narrator and host, leading us through the seas and oceans in BLUE PLANET II. The world is undoubtedly a better place with David, who celebrated his 99th year this year, still among us.

Although 24 years have passed since the premiere of the original, iconic BBC Studios series, a new generation of filmmakers has now taken the helm, capturing the unknown and returning to the underwater world with the most advanced technology of the time. It took over 4 years to undertake 125 expeditions, visiting 39 countries and filming across all the world’s oceans and continents. Diving and waiting for the perfect shot, the crew spent over 6,000 hours underwater.

Although the second series of this legendary BBC series debuted in 2017, it remains an extraordinary experience – a call to attention, a revelation of the inaccessible, and a testament to the mysterious underwater world that could be lost forever due to human negligence. Oceans produce roughly half of the oxygen essential to our planet for its healthy functioning. It is we humans who rely on it most, and the oceans are our greatest hope. As coral reefs fade, giants of the seas perish due to overfishing and scarcity of food, we continue to decimate apex predators like sharks, whether for a dorsal fin perfect for “iconic” soup or driven by irrational fears stoked by Spielberg’s legendary 1970s film, the oceans remain humanity’s only safeguard for maintaining the balance necessary for life on Earth.

In collaboration with BBC Studios, the British Film Festival proudly presents two episodes of BLUE PLANET II: the very first episode, marking a long-awaited revival of the series, and the third episode, dedicated to coral reefs – the most colourful and vibrant underwater cities on the planet.

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Text: Dorota Reksińska

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The BLUE PLANET II series will be shown at the TVP Poznań recording studio (Serafitek 8 Street).

Thanks to our partnership with BBC Studios, the screening will be free of charge. Tickets will be available from October 23.