Coral Reef Adventure brings the beauty and mystery of the coral reef environment to the big screen with a film that both celebrates this vital ecosystem and warns of its imminent decline. The film follows the personal journey of two underwater filmmakers, Howard and Michele Hall, on a 10-month expedition across the South Pacific to explore and document some of the world’s most beautiful and endangered coral reefs. Coral reefs may become extinct within 30 years due to global warming, over-fishing, and pollution, scientists warn. Coral Reef Adventure is both an emotional account of two extraordinary individuals doing what they can to help save the coral reefs, and an exciting story of drama and adventure.

Length: 46:00

Film Details

  • Year Released: 2003
  • Date Released:
    February 2003
  • Alternate Titles:
  • Status: In Distribution
  • 3D: No
  • Run Time: 31-50
  • Formats: 8/70, 15/70
  • Distributor:

    MacGillivray Freeman Films

  • Produced By:
  • Executive Producer: Chris Palmer, Chat Reynders
  • Producer: Greg MacGillivray, Alec Lorimore
  • Director:  Howard Hall, Greg MacGillivray
  • Associate Producer: 
  • Writer:  Stephen Judson (script), Osha Grah Davidson (script) Jack Stephens (narration)
  • Cinematography: Howard Hall (DOP), Michele Hall, Bob Cranson, Brad Ohlund
  • Sound Editor: 
  • Visual Effects:
  • Music/Score:  Steve Wood. Features songs written and recorded by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
  • Editor: Stephen Judson
  • Narrator: Liam Neeson
  • Other Credits: Major funding provided by the National Science Foundation. Produced in association with the National Wildlife Federation; Museum of Science, Boston; Museum Film Network; and Lowell, Blake and Associates.
  • Sponsors:

Genre

  • Documentary
  • Ecology
  • Nature
  • Oceanography

Website

macgillivrayfreeman.com/project/coral-reef-adventure/

Awards

  • Best Film, Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA), 2003
  • Best Cinematography, Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA), 2004
  • Best Large Format Film, International Wildlife Film Festival, 2004
  • Merit Awards for Soundmix, Conservation Message, and Graphics and Animation, International Wildlife Film Festival, 2004
  • CINE Masters Series Award (Best in the Non-Telecast Division) and CINE Golden Eagle Award (Science & Technology category)
  • Best of Festival (Grand Prix) and First Place Gold Camera Award  (Oceanography category), U.S. International Film & Video Festival
  • Silver Hugo (IMAX Category), INTERCOM Festival
  • Gold Medal (Docs up to 60 minutes), New York Festivals
  • Bronze Plaque, Chris Awards, Columbus International Film & Video Festival
  • 2004 Environmentalist of the Year Award presented to Greg MacGillivray by SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association)
  • 2006 Award of Excellence presented to Greg MacGillivray by the Aquarium  of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA, for his support of coral reef conservation

Film Facts

One of the most riveting sequences occurs when Howard Hall takes the IMAX camera down 370 feet to film a deep ocean reef, setting a record for the deepest a diver has taken an IMAX camera in the open ocean. The film is the fourth in MacGillivray Freeman Films’ Great Adventure Film series.