All3Media International has aligned with Japanese pubcaster NHK, Oxford Scientific Films and Aranya Parva Creations for a 90-minute special version of the wildlife documentary My Otter Diary.
NHK’s natural history department will lead the creative development on the special 90-minute Japanese version of the doc, which follows wildlife filmmaker and National Geographic explorer Sugandhi Gadadhar uncovering the lives of otters in one of India’s most rapidly changing waterways, working with Oxford Scientific Films and Aranya Parva Creations. NHK will hold the exclusive broadcast premiere window for both the 90-minute NHK version and the 60-minute original international version in Japan.
The 90-minute special version will be represented internationally by All3Media International. The original hour-long international version was commissioned by ZDF and ARTE, and co-produced with All3Media International, Oxford Scientific Films and Aranya Parva Creations.
The original 60-minute version sold to Viasat World for CEE, CIS, Baltics and Scandinavia; RTP in Portugal; Yle in Finland; and The Wonder Project (on Prime Video) in the U.S. An inflight deal was secured with Stellar Entertainment for the U.S. and Taiwan.
Gadadhar, the film’s director, from Aranya Parva Creations, said, “It is a little-known fact that otters exist in India, yet an otter is to a river what a tiger is to a forest. They are the apex predators in the river. The otters and the fishermen have given me a window into their lives, showing me both the beauty and the plight of the river Cauvery. It has been a rich and fun experience working with Oxford Scientific Films, ZDF/ARTE and NHK Japan to bring this experience to life.”
Anna Brett, director of operations at Oxford Scientific Films, added: “We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to collaborate with NHK Japan and All3Media International to create this feature-length version of My Otter Diary. Sugandhi and Rana’s extraordinary access to the otters of the Cauvery offers a powerful story of nature, resilience and coexistence. NHK’s creative partnership allowed us to expand and deepen that story for Japanese audiences, and we are delighted to help bring this unique and beautiful film to an even wider global market.”
Masa Hayakawa, executive producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, noted: “We all have a longing for nature as children. Sugandhi Gadadhar has never lost that feeling. Now a filmmaker, she embarks on a journey to seek out the elusive creature she encountered in her youth. During her journey, she meets a local fisherman and manages to gain an insight into the life of the otter. However, she is also confronted with the complex reality of the relationship between otters and fishermen. How can humans and wildlife coexist? It is a question that she poses through her own experiences on this journey. Having accompanied her throughout her journey, I found myself deeply moved once more by the brilliance of life. Woven with beautiful images, music and her own narrative, this extraordinary story is sure to resonate deeply with Japanese audiences.”
Tony Ziran Tang, VP for sales in Asia, finished and formats, at All3Media International, added, “We’re delighted to extend the appeal of this beautifully shot film through this new co-pro partnership with NHK Japan and Oxford Scientific Films. Using immersive storytelling and incredible visuals, acclaimed filmmaker Sugandhi Gadadhar takes viewers inside the lives of this captivating otter family, revealing both the beauty of their habitat and their conflict with the humans who also call it home. As humans and wildlife struggle to co-exist around the world, films such as My Otter Diary are vital in raising awareness of this complex issue, and we look forward to collaborating on this impactful special for Japanese viewers. NHK remains one of the most important windows for natural history co-productions in Asia. They value powerful human-animal stories as well as topic that are important to our daily life. All3Media International is thrilled to partner with them again after so many successful collaborations, and we’re confident that this new project will inspire and resonate with audiences even more widely.”
