Ocean with David Attenborough

10% for the Ocean is proud to have partnered with Silverback Films to co-produce Ocean with David Attenborough, released in cinemas worldwide, as was his wish, on David Attenborough’s 99th birthday on 8th May 2025.


The world-renowned filmmaker and broadcaster David Attenborough shares the untold story of our ocean and his greatest message of hope for our planet.

The powerful documentary takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean.

In the film the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing. Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

World-renowned filmmaker, broadcaster and environmentalist

“My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man. In this film, we share some of those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health, and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can be restored to health.

This could be the moment of change. Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean. Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen.”

Sir David Attenborough 2025

The Production

Ocean with David Attenborough is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production, in association with All3Media International, National Geographic, and Minderoo Pictures. The film is directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan. The film is co-produced by Arksen &10% for the Ocean, Don Quixote Foundation, National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Revive Our Ocean, and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Global impact

The theatrical release was timed ahead of World Ocean Day, June’s United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France, and midway through the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).As world leaders decide the fate of our ocean,Ocean with David Attenborough shows why ocean recovery is vital for stabilising our climate and securing a healthier future for us all, and how marine protection - if immediately implemented - can help to turn the tide.Ocean with David Attenborough was released as a Global Cinema Event, inviting audiences worldwide to come together to experience Attenborough’s untold story of the ocean on the big screen. Altitude released the film in the UK & Ireland and partnered with Piece of Magic Entertainment to release the film in the rest of the world, including in Africa, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland and South, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland,


Interested in screening Ocean with David Attenborough? [Info on how here]

Why We Made This Film


Media projects play a crucial role in bringing urgent issues to life and shifting momentum and inspiring action on a global scale.Ocean with David Attenborough supports two key themes;

  • a) the establishment and monitoring of a larger number of marine protected areas, and
  • b) bringing an end to bottom trawling.

The ocean is our planet’s life support system covering over 70% of the Earth, constituting over 90% of its habitable space, producing more than half the oxygen we breathe, and regulating our climate. Yet, it remains critically underfunded. Less than 1% of global philanthropic giving goes to the ocean, [and SDG 14 “Life under water”, receives less than 1% of all SGD funding.]

This chronic and profound underfunding is pushing marine ecosystems toward collapse. If we don’t accelerate solutions towards ocean recovery, we risk losing the very system that quite literally, sustains life on Earth.

If just 10% of existing charitable giving was redirected towards saving the ocean, it would unlock enough to end overfishing, restore vital ecosystems, and protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

10% for the Ocean pools donations to fund the most impactful research, protection and restoration initiatives worldwide. To date, we have supported over 70 organisations across 27 countries, funding hundreds of projects that empower local and global champions, advocate for stronger policies, and drive meaningful change.

In Sir David’s words “Nothing could be more important."

10% for the Ocean is the start of something extraordinary. Please consider donating our work: