Will and Lianne Steenkamp’s “Universe” documentary “Spirits of the Desert – The Lions of the Skeleton Coast”, which has already won several awards in recent months, has once again received international recognition at this year’s Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. The visually stunning documentary received four awards on Thursday, September 26, 2024, including the renowned Grand Prix for the best documentary – the “White Delfin”.
In addition, the production was awarded two “Golden Dolphins” in the categories “Nature and Wildlife” and “Environment, Ecology and Sustainability”. The “Universum” documentary also received the “Black Delfin” for its outstanding camera work.
“Universum” boss Gernot Lercher, who personally accepted the awards at the ceremony in Cannes, was enthusiastic: “The fact that this great nature film from the “Universum” workshop was able to assert itself against the strongest competition from all documentary genres underlines it more the outstanding quality of our productions. I congratulate Will & Lianne Steenkamp from the bottom of my heart.”
After the outstanding success at the Jackson Wild Media Awards – the so-called nature film Oscars – in the USA at the beginning of September, the win in Cannes represents another significant milestone for the South African “universe” filmmakers Will and Lianne Steenkamp.
Things will get even more exciting at the end of October, for example, when the documentary is nominated in the “Animal Behavior” category at the Panda Awards in Bristol, the European counterpart to the Jackson Wild Awards, and can once again hope for an award.
“Spirits of the Desert – The Lions of the Skeleton Coast” was created as a co-production by ORF, Into Nature Productions, Thirteen, WDR and ARTE and tells the gripping story of three orphaned lionesses who have to assert themselves in the hostile environment of the Namibian Skeleton Coast. For eight years, the passionate nature filmmakers Will and Lianne Steenkamp, together with the scientist Philip Stander, accompanied the small pack into impassable terrain to capture their extraordinary journey. The film shows previously unknown behavior and tells an impressive story about growing up in the wilderness.
ORF 2 will show the touching “Universe” documentary “Spirits of the Desert – The Lions of the Skeleton Coast” for the first time on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 8:15 p.m. on ORF 2 and on ORF ON.
The Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards are among the world’s most prestigious awards for corporate films, TV documentaries and online media. Every year the best and most innovative productions from the international media world are honored in Cannes.
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