The Rise of the Ocean Sunfish

Huge and widely unknown: the Ocean Sunfish. Filmmaker Thomas Behrend and his team succeed in bringing light in the mysterious life of the biggest teleosts.

Director: Thomas Behrend

Thomas Behrend, a German documentary film maker born in Hamburg, is well-known for his unique under water shots. While studying mechanical engineering the enthusiastic sports diver gathered his first experiences in underwater photography. In 1988 he got his first assignment for a film production. After finishing university he dedicated himself to his passion. In 1991 he founded his own company: BLUE PLANET FILM. From that time on Thomas Behrend produced many international award-winning nature films.

Director: Christina Karliczek-Skoglund

Christina Karliczek Skoglund is a wildlife and underwater filming specialist.
She works around the world for wildlife and expeditions series of BBC, NDR/Doclights, Terra Mater and Nat Geo Wild.

At the moment, you can find Christina in the chilly dark waters of Scandinavia and the Northeast Atlantic for several productions. Sharks Of The Icy North (Haie Eiskalt!) for Doclights/NDR/CuriosityStream and partners was her debut as producer with her company Black Coral Film.

Christina’s camerawork is awarded at prestigious film festivals and has contributed to a nomination for an Emmy in Outstanding Cinematography in 2017. Christina was one of the principal camera people of 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Festival Winner ‘Congo - Deep and Dangerous’ .

It’s been the passionate photographic interest in aquatic environments that made her initially leave her path as camera operator for tv and fiction on land. Christina has channeled this passion with an eye for evolving technology into bringing engaging storytelling back up from a world that’s hidden to most people.

Germany
2011
44 Min.
German
1
Director: Thomas Behrend, Christina Karliczek-Skoglund
Script: Christina Karliczek und Thomas Behrend
Cinematography: Christina Karliczek, Thomas Behrend, Mike Johnson, Roberto Rinaldi, Roland Gockel
Editing: Mirco Tribanek
Music: Michael Klaukien, Andreas Lonardoni
Narrator: Mark Bremer, Ingo Abel, Robert Missler, Sonja Szylowicki
Editor: NDR Naturfilm / Britta Kiesewetter
Nominations: Best Marine Film 2012
Website URL: www.blueplanetfilm.de