Documentary

Warner Bros. Discovery commissioned Emmy nominated director Ian Derry working alongside LB&Co producer Adam Booth to make the 45 min broadcast doc, Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals, which sheds light on the vital importance of combating climate change’s impact on coral reefs.

Produced through BAFTA winning production company Park Village, the film focuses on the undiscovered reefs along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline and the potential benefits of coral research in the region for ecosystems worldwide. The film showcases contributions from a diverse cast of experts, to provide context on the current state of reefs worldwide, their significance in the global ecosystem and the ongoing efforts to address the challenges they face. The film balances the corals and the challenges faced by reefs with the various technical and socio-economic efforts aimed at strengthening their opportunities for survival.

The film was aired exclusively on Discovery and Discovery+ on Earth Day, April 22nd. Directed by Derry, and exec produced by Adam Booth & Oliver Allgrove, Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals follows the journey of Salma Shaker, a skilled Saudi Arabian free diver, as she delves into the ground breaking work conducted by scientists at Red Sea Global and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Underwater photography was captured by DOP Jean Charles-Granjon, a long time collaborator of Derry’s, having shot his Emmy & BAFTA nominated 2022 film, Hold your breath: The Ice Dive.

Kerrie McEvoy, director, head of factual channels, Discovery Networks EMEA at Warner Bros Discovery, said: “We are immensely proud to announce our partnership with Red Sea Global in presenting ‘Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals’ which will air on Earth Day. Warner Bros. Discovery is committed to leveraging the power of storytelling to not only entertain but also inspire change and this film is a perfect example of how we can do that.”

Edina Constantinescu, senior director marketing EMEA and international, social good discovery networks at Warner Bros. Discovery, said, “Social good is an important priority for us at Warner Bros. Discovery and we aim to be at the forefront of raising awareness upon social and environmental issues our world faces constantly. Our brands give us the possibility to reach millions of people across the world and I’m so proud that ‘Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals’ airs on Discovery Channel across the US, Europe, Turkey, The Middle East, Africa and Asia to cast the spotlight on the importance of protecting our reefs.”