FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner, (513) 608-5777, chefner@cincymuseum.org

New OMNIMAX film immerses you in world’s most remote caves

Ancient Caves searches for clues to Earth’s climate history

CINCINNATI – Secrets to Earth’s history are buried deep underground. Science and adventure come together in Cincinnati Museum Center’s newest OMNIMAX® film. Ancient Caves takes you alongside scientists as they seek to better understand Earth’s climate history by studying some of the world’s most hidden realms. Ancient Caves opens November 20.

Ancient Caves follows paleoclimatologist Dr. Gina Moseley on a mission to unlock the secrets of the Earth’s climate in the most unlikely of places: caves. Until recently, scientists had no reliable way to accurately study the climate of Earth’s distant past. Dr. Moseley and her team of cave explorers travel the world exploring vast underground worlds in search of stalagmite samples – geologic “fingerprints” – that reveal clues about the planet’s climate history. Their quest leads them to some of the world’s most remote caves, both above and below the water, in France, Iceland, the Bahamas, Death Valley and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Together, they go where very few humans will ever go, revealing the incredible lengths scientists will go to study the unknown.

Ancient Caves takes audiences to some of the most extraordinary and beautiful places on the planet as it follows a team of researchers searching for clues hundreds of feet below the earth’s surface,” said director Jonathan Bird. “These deep underwater caves are other-worldly, like something straight out of a sci-fi film, and audiences can expect to see things they’ve never seen before. The film has something for everyone, whether it’s adventure, science or just pure beauty.”

The film is not only thrilling audiences, but has also garnered attention for its groundbreaking research. Dr. Moseley was awarded the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise for her climate research in caves in the Arctic explored during the filming.

Narrated by Emmy Award®-winning actor Bryan Cranston, Ancient Caves is directed by Emmy Award®-winning underwater cinematographer Jonathan Bird, who has specialized in documentary and underwater film production for more than 30 years. The film features music composed and arranged by Emmy Award®-winning composer Bruce Zimmerman and the prestigious City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ancient Caves is a family-friendly film and runs 40 minutes. For showtimes, tickets and more information, visit cincymuseum.org/ancient-caves.

Ancient Caves is produced by Oceanic Research Group Films and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. The Giant Dome Theater Consortium, a group of seven prestigious museums including Cincinnati Museum Center, provided financial support and guidance in the production of Ancient Caves.

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About Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized, award-winning institution housed in a National Historic Landmark. CMC is a vital community resource that sparks curiosity, inspiration, epiphany and dialogue. CMC was awarded the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2012, one of a select few museums in the nation to receive both honors. Organizations within CMC include the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Children’s Museum, Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, Cincinnati History Library and Archives and the Geier Collections and Research Center. Housed in historic Union Terminal – a National Historic Landmark restored in 2018 and recognized as the nation’s 45th most important building by the American Institute of Architects – CMC welcomes more than 1.8 million visits annually, making it one of the most visited museums in the country. For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org.

About Oceanic Research Group
Oceanic Research Group, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the conservation of the oceans through education. It primarily produces educational content aimed at students and teachers. Founded in 1990 with a series of marine science films specifically for use in the classroom, the company has expanded into teacher education, scholarships and the Emmy Award®-winning marine science program Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, which began on public television and transitioned to YouTube in 2012. Ancient Caves is Bird’s first film for exhibition in IMAX® and giant screen theaters. www.oceanicresearch.org www.blueworldTV.com

About Giant Dome Theater Consortium
The Giant Dome Theater Consortium is an alliance of seven U.S. science museums all operating giant dome theaters like the IMAX Laser Dome Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The consortium supports the production of educational films for exhibition in IMAX® and giant screen theaters. Its members are the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Boston Museum of Science, the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, Discovery Place in Charlotte, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The consortium has participated in the production of six giant screen films including National Parks Adventure released in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of the National Park Service.

About MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen 70mm films with 45 films for IMAX® and giant screen theaters to its credit. Throughout the company’s 50-year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one-billion-dollar benchmark for worldwide ticket sales. www.macgillivrayfreemanfilms.com