- Genre
- Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
- Duration
-
1 × 73 min
1 × 50 min
- Definition
- 4K
- Audio
- 5.1
- Status
- Completed
- Year
- 2023
Patrick and the Whale
'Patrick and the Whale' follows diver Patrick Dykstra's quest to reconnect with a sperm whale, showcasing stunning footage, their bond, and the complex world of these majestic creatures.
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More InformationSynopsis
An inspiring and engaging tale of Patrick Dykstra and a sperm whale “Dolores.”
For years, Patrick Dykstra has dedicated his life to traveling the globe, following and diving with whales. Over the years, Patrick has learned how whales see and hear, how they perceive other creatures in the water and how they behave at close quarters. He has a finely tuned sense and knows how to act when within touching distance of a whale – what to do, what not to do and when. This allows him to consistently get closer than anyone else alive – a truly unique skill.
Patrick recently experienced a life-changing event. In Dominica, he had a close encounter with a female sperm whale. She seemed to be curious about him, coming within touching distance, pulsing him with her sonar. She studied him as he studied her. Patrick felt an overwhelming sense that she was genuinely trying to communicate.
We follow Patrick as he travels to Dominica again to find this special whale he named “Dolores” so she can help him show us the hidden world of her species. Using stunning underwater footage, Patrick explores the fascinating nature of the sperm whale, attempting to shine a light on its intelligence and complexity, as well as highlighting its current and past relationship with humankind. The film follows his personal journey and explores the psychology of a man who has sacrificed everything in his single-minded quest to connect with and understand one of the the biggest creatures in the ocean.
Team
Production companies
A Terra Mater Studios Production
Directed by
Mark Fletcher
Featuring
Patrick Dykstra
Music by
H. Scott Salinas, Matt Atticus Berger
Team
Production companies
A Terra Mater Studios Production
Directed by
Mark Fletcher
Featuring
Patrick Dykstra
Music by
H. Scott Salinas, Matt Atticus Berger
Edited by
Mark Fletcher
Underwater Photography
Gail Jenkinson, Patrick Dykstra, Romain Barats
Director of Photography
Rupert Murray
Produced by
Walter Köhler, Wolfgang Knöpfler
Executive Producers
James Reed, Alexander Nanau,Dinah Czezik-Müller, Michael Frenschkowski
Additional Photography
Abdullatif Nurdin-Hussein
Drone Operator & Camera Assistant
Justin Knöpfler
Sound Recordist
Richard Eastick
Boat Captain
Captain Bill Olive
Whale Guide
Nigel Seraphin
Dive Supervisor
Joy Davids
Post Production Supervisor
Michael Fröch
Edit Assistant
Roland Mittermüller
Online Editor
Philipp Timm
Title Graphic
Kaiserlicht (Felix Geremus, Alexander Siquans)
Post Production and Visual Effects provided by
ViennaFX Postproduction
Colorist
Lee Niederkofler
VFX Artists
Felix Schuch, Christoph Steiner, Felix Pichler, Aksana Vezhnivets
Digital Intermediate and Mastering
Christian Vollenhofer-Rohlfing
Sound Post Production
Blautöne
Sound Designer
Bernhard Zorzi, Michael Plöderl
Foley Artist
Thomas Voglreiter
Foley Recordist
Günther Oberleitner
Voice Recording
Jakob Studnicka
Dialogue Editor
Martin Sachsenhofer
Re-Recording Mixer
Michael Ploederl
Sound Post Production Coordinator
Eva Reithofer
Sound Post Production Supervisor
Thomas Kathriner
Production Coodinator
Nina Holler, Josepha Andras
Production Assistant
Adriana Praxmarer
Production Controller
Satesh Mathura
Production Accountant
Wolfgang Stach
Assistant Accountants
Rosemarie Vellukunnel, Michael Svaljug, Antonius Goge, Julia Schedl
Terra Mater Social Media Team
Eva Schmidt, Elisa Mourao Flores, Philip-Jaime Alcazar, Katrin Blass
Head of Legal
Maria-Christine Rieder
Internal Legal Advisors
Andrea Pisu, Arlette Kumor-Beghin
Camera Equipment
Red Bull Equipment Pool, Esprit Film and Television
Travel Agent
Travel Birds
Music Copyright and Sync Management
Red Bull Media House GmbH (Daniela Gassert)
Titel song
"Nostalgia” by Alice Phoebe Lou © Edition Mesanic Publishing / BMG Rights Management GmbH
Awards & Recognitions
Tachov, Czech Republic
PAF Tachov Festival
Grand Prix
2025
WCSFP - World Congress of Science & Factual Producers Buzzies Awards
Nomination: Best Natural History Program/Contet - Long Format
2024
Sedona, USA
Sedona International Film Festival
Best Environmental Film
2023
Dana Point, USA
Dana Point Film Festival
Best Feature Length Documentary
2023
Gijón, Spain
Wild Oceans FilmFest
Finalist
2023
Sestri Levante, Italy
Riviera International Film Festival
Sky Documentary Award
2023
Santa Monica, USA
Blue Water Film Festival
Best Cinematography Award
2023
Santa Monica, USA
Blue Water Film Festival
Eco Impact Award
2023
Ludwigsburg, Germany
NaturVision Filmfestival
Special Category Award: Change of Perspective – Nature Film chosen differently
2023
Eckernförde, Germany
Green Screen – Internationales Naturfilmfestival Eckernförde
Best Marine Film
2023
Eckernförde, Germany
Green Screen – Internationales Naturfilmfestival Eckernförde
Heinz Sielmann Prize
2023
Korčula, Croatia
Smaragdni Eco Film Festival
Best Environmental Feature Film
2023
Chagrin Falls, USA
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
Best Environmental Film
2023
Friday Harbor, USA
Friday Harbor Film Festival
Best Overall Feature (Audience Choice) Award
2023
Watertown, USA
13th Arlington Int’l Film Festival
Audience Choice Award
2023
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø International Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana Doc Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Santa Barbara, USA
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Nomination
2023
San Rafael, USA
DocLands Documentary Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Tartu, Estonia
Tartuff film Festival
Nomination
2023
Berlin, Germany
Cinema for Peace
Nomination (International Green Film Award)
2023
Singapur, Malaysia
Waves of Change Festival
Nomination
2023
San Francisco, USA
International Ocean Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Kiel, Germany
CINEMARE International Ocean Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Tel Aviv, Israel
DOCaviv
Nomination
2023
Linz, Austria
Ars Electronica
Nomination
2023
Cleveland, USA
Cleveland International Film Festival
Nomination
2023
New York, USA
Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Ludwigsburg, Germany
NaturVision Filmfestival
Nomination (NaturVision Film Music Award)
2023
Woods Hole, USA
32nd Woods Hole Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Nantucket, USA
Nantucket Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Gabés, Tunesia
JCMC les Journées Cinématographiques Méditerranées de Chenini Gabes
Nomination
2023
Minnesota, USA
Twin Cities Film Fest
Nomination
2023
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam
Nomination
2023
Boulder, USA
Boulder Environmental / Nature / Outdoors Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Busan, South Korea
Korea International Ocean Film Festival
Opening film
2023
Montrose, Scotland
Montrose LandxSea Filmfest
Nomination
2023
India
The All Living Things Environmental Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Toronto, Canada
2023 Water Docs Film Festival
Nomination
2023
Zurich, Switzerland
Films For Future
Nomination
2023
Warsaw, Poland
Watch Docs International Film Festival
Selection
2023
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck Nature Film Festival
Grand Prize for the best Nature Documentary
2022
Newport, USA
Newport Beach Film Festival
Best Documentary
2022
Graz, Austria
Mountainfilm International Filmfestival
Camera Alpin in Gold (Nature & Environment)
2022
Graz, Austria
Mountainfilm International Filmfestival
Audience Award: Favorite Mountainfilm 2022
2022
Jackson Hole, USA
Jackson Wild Media Awards
Nomination: Human Planet - Long Form
2022
Jackson Hole, USA
Jackson Wild Media Awards
Nomination: Onscreen Personality
2022
Jackson Hole, USA
Jackson Wild Media Awards
Nomination: Feature
2022
Bristol, United Kingdom
Wildscreen Festival
Nomination: Best Editing
2022
Bristol, United Kingdom
Wildscreen Festival
Nomination: Best Producer/Director
2022
Bristol, United Kingdom
Wildscreen Festival
Nomination: Best Sound
2022
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Los Cabos International Film Festival
Nomination
2022
Florida, USA
Key West Film Festival
Nomination
2022
Toronto, Canada
Toronto International Film Festival
Official Selection
2022
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich Film Festival
European Premiere, nomination (Focus Competition)
2022
Hot Springs, USA
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
US Premiere, nomination
2022
Montclair, USA
Montclair Film Festival
New York Premiere, nomination
2022
East Hampton, USA
Hamptons International Film Festival
Nomination
2022
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