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Around the World on a Wild Fish Chase

Beneath the waves lies another world, one of strange beauty and deep secrets. In this film we seek to explore and understand a mysterious, vulnerable creature that despite reaching over 3m long and 3.2 tonnes in weight, often swims past our shores unnoticed: the ocean sunfish.

Travelling with the sunfish across their global range, we speak to scientists and conservationists, travelling around the entire world on a wild fish chase! This film explores the underwater world of record-breaking giants, their strange body shape, bizarre behaviours and battles for survival against overfishing and a changing climate. Join us as we meet the people fighting for their future and dive into the world of the giant ocean sunfish!

This film was supported by a grant from the National Geographic Society.

  • Natasha Phillips
    Director
    Secrets of the Basking Shark
  • Natasha Phillips
    Producer
    Secrets of the Basking Shark
  • Lawrence Eagling
    Cinematographer
    Secrets of the Basking Shark
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Wildlife, Science, Marine, Ocean, Conservation, SciComm
  • Runtime:
    37 minutes 9 seconds
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Natasha Phillips

Natasha Phillips is an early-career director based in Cornwall, specialising in short, documentary films. After beginning her career as a scientist, her transition into film came through a passion for the communication of complex issues through engaging storytelling. She is a National Geographic Explorer, drawing on her endless curiosity and a forensic eye for detail to direct documentaries exploring fascinating stories from new scientific discoveries, to ancient history and modern social issues.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a marine biologist turned natural history filmmaker, I aim to combine science and film, exploring new insights into the natural world. This film arose from my PhD specialising in ocean sunfish research, taking the audience behind-the-scenes to explore the secret world of sunfish. There is a popular belief that ocean sunfish are useless oddities, a tropical rarity, and so here we aim to showcase this strange creature and its incredible capabilities across its global range. By speaking to researchers online, recycling footage or using images taken by the researchers themselves, this is a carbon-neutral film, taking viewers literally around the world.

I would love this film to be selected, to showcase a vulnerable predator, explore previously unheard stories from researchers across the world and offer intimate access to these 3m giants. New scientific findings often remain out of sight behind academic paywalls so here we aim to share new research as told by the scientists themselves.

Ocean sunfish are skilful at remaining out of sight beneath the waves, but being out of sight often means out of mind. By taking the audience on a journey with the sunfish around the world, we can gain a new perspective, exploring their unbelievable ecology and the challenges of conservation, showing the amazing collection of people coming together to fight for their future.

My main aim for this film is to share this exciting story, aiming for new understanding and conservation efforts, taking the audience on a carbon-neutral journey around the world on a wild fish chase!