BOSTON — Massachusetts filmmakers Jonathan Bird and Tim Geers will take their audience into the world of wild dolphins in a new 3D Giant-Screen documentary, “Call of the Dolphins,” opening to the public at The New England Aquarium Simons IMAX Theater February 14.
Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen, Call of the Dolphins invites audiences on an unforgettable journey into the fascinating world of wild dolphins, revealing the profound bond humans share with these highly intelligent creatures. With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling on the world’s largest screens, the film takes viewers beneath the ocean’s surface for an up-close exploration of how dolphins live, play, and interact—both with each other and with us.
“Call of the Dolphins brings audiences face-to-face with wild dolphins, offering a fresh and immersive experience with these remarkable animals that have captured human imagination for centuries,” said Jonathan Bird, director and co-producer of the film, who is also a longtime resident of North Reading.
He adds, “The film also introduces a passionate team of individuals dedicated to understanding and protecting these intelligent creatures. I hope it inspires a renewed sense of wonder and a deeper appreciation for the importance of safeguarding their ocean home.”
IRCC performance
There is an additional North Reading connection in this production. The executive producer of the film is Jonathan’s wife, Christine Bird. And Christine is also a member of the Ipswich River Community Chorus, which is based in North Reading and well-known for its annual Christmas and spring concerts. “The chorus recorded two pieces of original music that are featured in the film! They were composed by our film composer, Bruce Zimmerman of Connecticut,” Jonathan Bird added.
In addition to the IRCC voice cameo, the film features remarkable local Massachusetts stories. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and its Marine Mammal Rescue Team in Yarmouth, Mass. responded to a record high of more than 464 marine mammals stranded on Cape Cod this past year. From the beaches of Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown, the film follows the rescue efforts of IFAW volunteers, Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Sharp and Stranding Biologist Kira Kasper as they treat and transfer the stranded animals back into the Atlantic ocean.
Call of the Dolphins chronicles the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researcher, Dr. Laela Sayigh, who believes dolphin speech patterns from animal sound data may be the key to curbing dolphin strandings on Cape Cod. Dr. Sayigh also discovered the unique speech patterns between mother dolphins and their babies, that has been compared to human “baby talk.”
The film also includes breathtaking dive sequences of Captain Wayne Scott Smith, who has spent 35 years leading wild dolphin snorkeling trips in the Bahamas and who shares a unique bond with Atlantic spotted dolphins.
Call of the Dolphins is the latest giant-screen documentary from award-winning filmmaker Jonathan Bird, whose previous works include Ancient Caves (winner of the 2020 Best Film of the Year award from the Giant Screen Cinema Association), Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit, and Secrets of the Sea, (winner of the 2022 Best Film of the Year award).
Bird is also the producer and host of the Emmy-Award-winning series Jonathan Bird’s Blue World. Co-producer and Emmy-winning local filmmaker, Tim Geers was the 2nd unit director, responsible for the IFAW rescue and rehabilitation sequences on Cape Cod for Call of the Dolphins.
Call of the Dolphins is produced by Oceanic Research Group Films and presented by MacGillivray Freeman Films. The film is family-friendly and has a run time of 40 minutes. For more information, please visit http://callofthedolphinsmovie.com.