National Geographic Sets Date and Unveils Trailer for Critically Acclaimed Heartwarming Documentary BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY

Today, National Geographic released the trailer for the critically acclaimed documentary special BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY, directed by distinguished photographer and filmmaker Charlie Hamilton James and produced by Emmy^® and BAFTA Award-winner Jeff Wilson of Silverback Films. The emotionally powerful film shows audiences how the ability to love can reawaken us to the beauty of nature. Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey serve as executive producers, along with National Geographic's Tom McDonald and Janet Vissering. The film is edited by Sam Rogers, with cinematography by Charlie Hamilton James, Johnny Rolt and Bertie Gregory, and music composed by Erland Cooper. BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY premieres May 6 on National Geographic and will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

When a wild otter in desperate need of help washes up on his jetty in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland, Billy Mail, his wife Susan, and their devoted sheepdog Jade find themselves with a unique new member of their family. When Molly first arrives at the Mail residence, Billy and Susan take it upon themselves to care for the ill otter, providing Billy with a new sense of purpose.

Critics raved following the world premiere at SXSW, calling it "one of 2024's very best documentaries" (Sunshine State Cineplex) and "an emotional powerhouse of a documentary" (Screen Zealots).

"BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY is an inspiring story that we hope will encourage viewers to pause and reconnect with the world around them," said Tom McDonald, National Geographic's executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content. "Charlie Hamilton James and Silverback Films are the perfect partners to bring this story to viewers around the world. This remarkable film truly captures the beauty of nature and humanity and how it impacts our lives in the most unexpected ways."

Told through powerful cinematography and with music composed by Erland Cooper, BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY takes us on an emotional journey that illustrates the power of love and the beauty of the natural world. Through the quiet, daily interactions of Molly's time with the Mails, viewers will understand how animals ? and the environment around us ? heavily impact our lives.

"This film was the ultimate passion project for me, and simply a dream come true," said director Charlie Hamilton James. "At its core, BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY is about love between man and wife, and man and otter, and for the natural world. We hope viewers will feel this love radiate when they watch the film."

Charlie Hamilton James is a world-renowned National Geographic photographer, filmmaker and author known for his captivating work on wildlife and conservation issues. He began his career at 16, working on David Attenborough's "Trails of Life" before going on to direct and shoot documentaries for clients including National Geographic and the BBC. In 2022, he won the National Geographic Photographer's Photographer Award for his work capturing East Africa's Serengeti ecosystem and other conservation-based stories.

BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY is directed by Charlie Hamilton James and produced by Emmy and BAFTA Award-winner Jeff Wilson with Silverback Films. The film world premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin and continued its festival run at the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (CPH:DOX) and DC Environmental Film Festival. It's set to play at the San Francisco Film Festival (SFFILM) and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival later this month. BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY premieres May 6 on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

About National Geographic

Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, the content studio reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Emmy^® Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar^®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zero's Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, it's sixth Emmy overall. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Silverback Films

Silverback Films is a world-leading producer of natural history films for both television and cinema. Founded in 2012 by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, it brings together an exceptional team of wildlife filmmakers and has produced shows and features that are among the most successful ever created, including "Wild Isles" (BBC), "Our Planet" (Netflix), "David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet" (Netflix), "The Hunt" (BBC), "The Mating Game" (BBC), seven Disneynature features (Disney+), and most recently the landmark "Life on Our Planet" (Netflix). Silverback is committed to creating the highest-quality films that also help raise awareness of the world's environmental crisis. Their cutting-edge productions combine powerful storytelling with first-class cinematography to tell stories that not only inspire but challenge audiences ? setting them apart as a leader in the industry. Their work has been recognized at the highest level and has won numerous acclaimed awards. The company is based in Bristol, the global heart of natural history production, and is part of the All3Media Group, which acquired Silverback Films in December 2020.

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