An immersive IMAX® experience based on a true story of scientific discovery set in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest

Opens October 6 at Ontario Science Centre's
Shoppers Drug Mart^® OMNIMAX^® Theatre

TORONTO, Oct. 3, 2017 /CNW/ - AMAZON ADVENTURE traces the 11-year Amazon rainforest expedition of naturalist, explorer and scientist Henry Walter Bates, who provided "the beautiful proof" to Charles Darwin for his then controversial theory of natural selection, the scientific explanation for the development of life on Earth. AMAZON ADVENTURE is a compelling detective story of peril, perseverance and success, drawing audiences into the fascinating world of animal mimicry, the natural phenomenon where one animal adopts the look of another, gaining an advantage to survive. AMAZON ADVENTURE opens to the public at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto on October 6, 2017; the film's run time is 45 minutes.

"This compelling real life story chronicles the search for experimental proof for Darwin's theory of natural selection in the remote Amazon basin," said Maurice Bitran, Ph.D., CEO and Chief Science Officer, Ontario Science Centre, "providing an inspiring demonstration of the scientific method at work as well as highlighting the curiosity and perseverance required for scientific breakthrough."

"The Giant Screen is the ideal format to take audiences to places that they might not normally go; and to see amazing creatures they might not normally see," said Executive Producer Jonathan Barker, CEO of SK Films. "From a humble background, with an unstoppable passion for science and life, Bates played guitar, had a pet monkey, relied on Amazonian natives to survive and learned many of their languages, and made crucial contributions to our understanding of the natural world. He should be more widely known and we're thrilled to introduce his remarkable story to the public." 

Filmed on location in the lush Amazon, AMAZON ADVENTURE plunges audiences into the breathtaking beauty and captivating animal behavior of the jungle, home to an array of nature's masters of mimicry.

Painstakingly researched for three years, AMAZON ADVENTURE enlisted the expertise of more than 100 scientists and historical advisors. The team's commitment to authenticity resulted in this rigorous re-creation, using actual instruments and tools from the 1850s, and incorporating many of Bates' own words based on his scientific field notebooks, botanical drawings and butterflies he personally collected over 160 years ago.

AMAZON ADVENTURE won a total of five awards at the 2017 Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) including: Best Film Short Subject, Best Film for Lifelong Learning, Best Original Score for Antonio Pinto, Best Cinematography for Gerry Vasbenter and Richard Kirby, Best Sound Design for Peter Thillaye.

About SK FILMS

SK Films is a Toronto-based, multi-platform entertainment content provider and a world leader in 3D film production and distribution. The company was founded in 1998 by Jonathan Barker and the late Robert Kerr, the visionary co-founder of IMAX Corporation.

About HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a production company established and funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an extension of its longstanding science education mission. Dedicated to the creation of original science documentaries for broadcast, theatrical and digital distribution, the company's award-winning programs address important contemporary issues and capture compelling stories of discovery across all branches of scientific inquiry. For more information, please visit www.tangledbankstudios.org.

About Ontario Science Centre

The Ontario Science Centre, a Centennial project, has welcomed more than 51 million visitors since it opened in 1969, implementing an interactive approach now adopted by science centres around the world. Today, the Science Centre is an international leader in free-choice science learning and a key contributor to Ontario's education and innovation ecosystems, offering lifelong learning through hands-on, engaging experiences. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. As a publicly assisted organization, the Science Centre relies on generous individuals, corporations and foundations who share a commitment to science and education for additional operating support. For more information about the Ontario Science Centre, please visit OntarioScienceCentre.ca.

SOURCE Ontario Science Centre