DISNEYNATURE WILL DONATE PORTION OF FIRST WEEK BOX OFFICE FOR “CHIMPANZEE” TO THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE
Disneynature celebrates the April 20, 2012, theatrical release of the incredible new True-Life Adventure, CHIMPANZEE, by joining forces with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) for a special “See CHIMPANZEE, Save Chimpanzees” program. For every moviegoer who sees CHIMPANZEE during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to JGI through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.
CHIMPANZEE, directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the award-winning team responsible for the acclaimed nature film EARTH, utilizes extraordinary, never-before-seen footage to introduce moviegoers to Oscar, an adorable young chimp, and his primate family living in the heart of the African forest.
Oscar the young chimpanzee who is the star of Disneynature's new CHIMPANZEE film opening on April 20, 2012.
“We are very excited to bring the story of Oscar and his chimpanzee family to the big screen. CHIMPANZEE showcases the incredible personalities and heartwarming relationships of these amazing animals,” said Alan Bergman, president, The Walt Disney Studios. “As part of our company’s ongoing efforts to protect the environment and empower audiences to participate in global conservation, Disneynature is proud to join with the Jane Goodall Institute in its efforts to secure a future for chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo.”
“The Jane Goodall Institute is proud to work so closely with Disneynature on the release of CHIMPANZEE,” said Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace. “JGI has been working in Africa for almost 35 years following on from my research begun in 1960. We are thrilled to extend our impact and efforts through this collaboration to support and celebrate such a wonderful film. Together, we can truly make a difference and are thrilled to have Disneynature join our efforts to protect chimpanzee habitats, care for orphaned chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo and educate a new generation of young people and connect them to nature.”
The film opens in North Americaon April 20, 2012. Tickets for groups of 20 or more are already available by calling 1-888-DISNEY6.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with CHIMPANZEE, a new True-Life Adventure that introduces an adorable young chimp named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival community of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family — including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy — navigates the complex territory of the forest. Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“EARTH”), CHIMPANZEE swings into theaters on Earth Day 2012. For more information about the movie and the “See CHIMPANZEE, Save Chimpanzees” initiative, check out Disney.com/chimpanzee.
ABOUT THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE
Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute continues Dr. Goodall’s pioneering research on chimpanzee behavior started more than 50 years ago—research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. Today, the Institute is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It also is widely recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the global environmental and humanitarian program for youth of all ages, which has groups in more than 120 countries. For more information, please visit www.janegoodall.org.
ABOUT DISNEYNATURE
Disneynature was launched in April 2008. Its mission is to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife stories on the big screen in order to engage, inspire, and educate theatrical audiences everywhere. Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1948 and 1960, which earned eight Academy Awards®. The first three Disneynature films, EARTH, OCEANS and AFRICAN CATS, are three of the top four highest overall grossing feature-length nature films to date, with EARTH garnering a record-breaking opening weekend for the genre. Conservation has been a key pillar of the label, and Disneynature films empower the audience to help make a difference. Through donations tied to opening week attendance for all three films, Disneynature has planted three million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, established 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas and protected 65,000 acres of savanna in Kenya. Disneynature’s next True-Life Adventure, CHIMPANZEE, swings into theatres on Earth Day, April 20, 2012.
