MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced that it is is making the global movie industry dive into Deep Blue with its new theatrical distribution deals

BBC Worldwide and Greenlight Media have signed a deal with Optimum Releasing for it to acquire distribution rights in the UK, Ireland, Malta and Gibraltar for the feature-length ocean documentary Deep Blue. Optimum Releasing will release the film in a few months time in around 30 cinemas.

Other deals were signed last week at the Berlin Film Festival. Hopscotch will distribute Deep Blue in Australia and New Zealand; Cineart will do the same in Belgium; A-Films has taken Deep Blue for the Netherlands; Odeon is releasing it in Greece; and Shani Films is the distributor in Israel.

Deep Blue recently released in Germany. The box office figures were up eight per cent week on week with admissions standing at 225,000. When the movie opened in Germany it beat the Hollywood competition such as the Oscar nominated Lost In Translation and Finding Nemo.

Deep Blue is the first of several co-productions planned between BBC Worldwide and Greenlight Media pursuant to a multi-picture deal. It explores life above, below and far beneath the ocean's surface. Its source of inspiration was the television series Blue Planet which was co-produced by the BBC and Discovery. The film is narrated by actor Michael Gambon Path to War.