April 16, 2008—MacGillivray Freeman Films has announced plans to offer to the world a free digital download of its Academy Award-nominated giant screen motion picture The Living Sea during the week of Earth Day, April 21 to 25, 2008. This online event is hosted by MSN Green, a new online resource for the latest environmental news, and marks one of the first major free film offerings of this scope over the internet.

“We are honored to offer The Living Sea as our gift to the world on Earth Day,” said director Greg MacGillivray. “We all have a stake in the future of our oceans. My hope is that millions of people will participate in this online event and come away inspired with a renewed love and appreciation for all life under the sea and with a determination to protect it at whatever cost.”

“MacGillivray Freeman Films is once again demonstrating its visionary thinking when it comes to environmental education by generously offering at no charge to the world such a high-quality and important film as The Living Sea,” said Lisa Tiedt, senior channel manager, MSN Green. “We are honored to be the first to use the power and reach of the worldwide web to bring this important film to the people.”

Users can find instructions for downloading the film for free at green.msn.com starting April 21. The free download will include the trailer for MacGillivray Freeman’s newest theatrical release, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk 3D, which is currently rolling out to more than 60 IMAX theaters and IMAX 3D theaters. Participating online partners such as Amazon, Movie Link, Cinema Now and Vudu will offer additional special discounts for DVD titles in the MacGillivray Freeman Films library, including Coral Reef Adventure and the Academy Award-nominated Dolphins.

“We are honored to work with MacGillivray Freeman Films, MSN Green and our numerous digital partners to offer this important film to the world on Earth Day,” said Mitch Mallon, Vice President of Digital Sales at Egami Media, which brought together the digital providers. “It is our common goal to provide an enriching and entertaining experience while promoting the green effect that digital distribution can deliver.”

A timeless visual celebration of the world’s oceans, The Living Sea was originally created for exhibition in IMAX theaters. Since the film’s release in 1995, the film has played to record-breaking attendance throughout the world and has now been exhibited in more than 190 giant screen theaters. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject and inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame, the film has grossed more than $100 million dollars at the worldwide box office, making it one of the top 10 grossing documentaries of all time.

Narrated by Meryl Streep and featuring music by Sting, The Living Sea was shot on location in the Central Pacific islands of Palau, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, the Red Sea, California, and Maine. It celebrates the beauty and diversity of the world’s oceans as it explores mankind’s relationship with this complex and fragile environment. The Living Sea is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films in association with Nauticus; The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia; and the Ocean Film Network and executive produced by White Oak Associates, Inc.