Promotional material for Born in China (Photo/Courtesy of Disneynature, SMG Pictures and Yoodoo Films)
Promotional material for Born in China (Photo/Courtesy of Disneynature, SMG Pictures and Yoodoo Films)
<i>Born in China</i>, a Disneynature documentary focusing on rare animals that can only be found in China, such as pandas, snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes, will be released in cinemas in the mainland on August 12 and in North America on Earth Day (April 22, 2017), the film's producers announced at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
The film is being produced by Disney's Roy Conli, who produced the company's Big Hero 6, and directed by Chinese director Lu Chuan, who is known for films Nanjing! Nanjing! and Kekexili: Mountain Patrol.
The Chinese version of Born in China will be narrated by Chinese actress Zhou Xun.
The team spent three years filming in the provinces of Qinghai and Sichuan, and the Tibet Autonomous Region, to capture rare footage of the animals' lives during different seasons.
Big screen documentaries about wildlife are rare in the Chinese market. At the press conference, Lu referred to the project as a valuable opportunity for Chinese filmmakers to learn how to make this type of documentary.
Since it was founded in 2008, Disneynature has made several critical acclaimed documentaries such as Chimpanzee and Bears.
At the press conference, Conli said that he was touched by Lu's storytelling ability and that this was one of the things that motivated him to produce the film.
