OTF adds premium factual focusing on climate change, biodiversity, planet’s future

Environmental documentary series Wild Hope

ZDF Studios-owned factual-specialist producer and distributor Off the Fence (OTF) has struck various partnerships to add a host of environment and conservation focused projects to its slate.

Headlining the slate are two projects in collaboration with EarthxTV, the production arm of the non-profit environmental forum that seeks sustainable solutions to the most urgent environmental challenges.

The Future from Above (4×60′) is a coproduction between OTF Studios, Sky, Korean TV channel ENA, part of KT’s SkyLife TV, and Borderless Lab, with funding from Korean communications agency KCA.

The series focuses on how the world could look in 2050 — said to be the defining year for our planet’s future — if revolutionary technology around how we communicate, harness energy, travel and how we live, eat and recycle our waste were to be introduced.

The second OTF/EarthxTV coproduction is Ocean Mysteries (8×30′) featuring Tom “The Blowfish” Hird, whose recent television projects include Fishing Impossible for the BBC.

The series sees the marine biologist, scuba diver and wildlife expert combine stunts and pop-science demos with natural history footage and engaging analogies to unravel the mysteries behind a colourful cast of ocean creatures.

Also on the slate is Wild Hope (8×30′) produced by science-focused impact studio HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and Part2 Pictures in a coproduction with Wild Elements. The acquisition aims to offer optimism by profiling everyday people, conservationists and scientists who are restoring and protecting our planet.

OTF said another upbeat vision of the future is provided by The Endangered Generation (working title), which comes to OTF via a new producer relationship with Australia’s Sweetshop & Green.

The feature documentary, narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), challenges the myth that our world is fundamentally driven by selfishness and competition. Instead, scientists, artists and First Nation leaders explore the deep connections that bind us all to life, our world and one another.

Loren Baxter, OTF’s head of acquisitions, said: “When OTF started out, our focus on natural history and the environment was considered a bit eccentric – and certainly a bit niche.

“Now, nearly 20 years later, the world has caught up with us and demand for the genre is fast outstripping supply. Meanwhile, we’ve spent those 20 years forging partnerships with the world’s best producers of natural-history content, which means we’re in a uniquely strong position to meet that demand with balanced, accurate and informative programming and about the climate emergency and what we can do to mitigate it.

“These are powerful films that tackle the greatest threat to human survival, but in a way that encourages action rather than fear and despair. We’re very proud to bring them to the world.”