"National Geographic Documentary Films," a Global Filmmaking Banner, is Announced

National Geographic to Produce Feature Documentaries under New Global Banner, National Geographic Documentary Films

National Geographic Documentary Films Will Release Previously Announced Feature Docs From Emmy award-winning director Marina Zenovich and Academy Award-winning executive producer Alex Gibney; journalist, author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger along with producing partner Nick Quested; double Oscar winner Simon Chinn; Emmy award winner Jonathan Chinn; Academy Award-winning team Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin; and Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated executive producer, director and writer Brett Morgen

WASHINGTON & PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the heels of the unprecedented global release of the critically acclaimed documentary Before the Flood, which reached more than 60 million people globally, National Geographic announced today the new global feature documentary banner National Geographic Documentary Films, which will build on its long history and commitment to producing premium feature documentaries and unscripted series. National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe made this announcement at the network’s TCA session at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, California.

    “Given our tremendous success with both Before the Flood and He Named Me Malala, we are further cementing our push into the feature documentary space with the launch of National Geographic Documentary Films”

“Given our tremendous success with both Before the Flood and He Named Me Malala, we are further cementing our push into the feature documentary space with the launch of National Geographic Documentary Films,” said Monroe. “At National Geographic, we believe in the power of storytelling to change the world. National Geographic Documentary Films will showcase important, timely, provocative, globally relevant stories from the very best documentary filmmakers in the business.”

Previously announced feature documentaries that will be produced under National Geographic Documentary Films include Water & Power: A California Heist, from Emmy award-winning director Marina Zenovich and Academy Award-winning executive producer Alex Gibney and his production company Jigsaw Productions, which will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 23; Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS from Sebastian Junger and Nick Quested; LA 92 (working title), produced by double Oscar winner Simon Chinn and his cousin, Emmy award winner Jonathan Chinn, and directed by Academy Award-winning team Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin; and the Untitled Jane Goodall Project from Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated executive producer, director and writer Brett Morgen.

The new banner underscores the success and unprecedented rollout of Before the Flood, a climate change feature documentary from Academy Award-winning executive producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens. Before the Flood received a rollout never before seen for a documentary film, first with a limited theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles and London, then making its global television debut on Sunday, Oct. 30, on National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and 45 languages. It was also available free for 10 days on a record number of digital and streaming platforms worldwide. Before the Flood reached more than 60 million people worldwide and surpassed a record-setting 1 billion minutes viewed across linear, digital, streaming and social platforms — making it arguably one of the most watched documentaries in history and the most watched National Geographic film ever.

National Geographic has also seen success with a partnership with Fox Searchlight for the 2015 global theatrical release of the critically acclaimed feature documentary He Named Me Malala, an intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai. The network achieved its first critically acclaimed feature documentary in 2010 with Restrepo from Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington, which was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Restrepo, which chronicled the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, is widely considered to have broken new ground in war reporting.


About National Geographic Partners LLC:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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