Albatross Strikes a Chord with Nature & Wildlife Catalog

Anne Olzmann, managing director at Albatross World Sales, talks to TV Real about the company’s breadth of nature and wildlife programming that is ideal for audiences in need of some escapism.

Turning on the television—or opening up a streaming service or app—has long served as a means of escape for audiences. With that being more true now than ever, Albatross World Sales is glad to offer the sorts of stories that can distract and uplift viewers. Nature and wildlife and travel titles—particularly those with a lighter sensibility—are proving their value in a time in which international tourism has all but come to a standstill and people are in want of some feel-good entertainment amid the global health crisis.

“We noticed an uptick in requests for cute animal content and stories with a less bleak ending,” says Anne Olzmann, managing director at Albatross. While wildlife programming has historically been heavily in-demand, it’s the content that has an emotional aspect to it that is most appealing to viewers at the moment, according to Olzmann, who points to The Meadow—Paradise Lost? as an example. This emotional element is also a key factor for a title that wants to reach viewers the world over. The programs need “to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, so it’s especially successful if it relies on emotions and relates to the universal experience of existence.”

“A good and well-told story paired with beautiful imagery, such as in our upcoming documentary Monkey (R)Evolution—Thailand’s Diving Macaques, will always capture an audience, especially if it points to issues and topics that are close to the heart,” adds Olzmann. “Humor also works well and connects people around the globe, so if you have a title like Africa’s Wild Roommates—How Animals Share Bed and Board on the platter, you’re good to go.”

In terms of travel titles, the company has on offer The Danube, which follows the river from its source to the Black Sea, and Herders—Guardians of the Earth, which visits pastoralist communities around the world. Blue-chip titles can captivate an audience with striking landscape shots and sequences featuring various species in far-flung reaches of the world, according to Olzmann, who adds, “In times of increased awareness of climate change and environmental issues, we also noticed more interest in conservational topics as well as wildlife docs with a strong science angle.”

Science programming is also a focal point of Albatross’s offer, including the new documentary On Thin Ice. “The harrowing and beautifully filmed documentary was nominated at the Jackson Wild festival and has already won numerous awards,” says Olzmann. “It’s about the thawing permafrost in the Russian Arctic that poses a survival threat not only for all life in the area, but also our planet as a whole.” There’s also Banquet of the Beasts—The Cycle of Life, which explores the decay of animals and how death can open the possibility for more life in forests and meadows.

While Albatross is keen to showcase its newer additions, it’s embracing an opportunity that streamers provide to introduce viewers to content in its back catalog as well. “Besides working with the bigger, global players on the new titles, it is also a great opportunity to show audiences around the world some of our less recent, yet relevant docs again through the various smaller, pan-regional and regional outlets,” explains Olzmann. “Especially high-quality wildlife titles remain timeless, and the conservational challenges that these documentaries present haven’t become less urgent in the last years. We think streamers are a great way to keep the conversation around these important topics going.”

As Albatross’s producers are hard at work to return to a normal release schedule, the company is sourcing programs that wrapped filming ahead of the lockdown and have moved into post-production, aware that travel series might be more difficult to come by next year. “Though wildlife seems to be adaptable in the COVID-19 era, we’re sure that we will see more of our local wildlife onscreen in the following year due to travel restrictions,” says Olzmann. “We can’t wait to prove that it can also be wonderful to explore nature in front of your doorstep for once. We’re excited to see what this new normal will bring!”

Olzmann is also looking forward to seeing Albatross’s global partners in the months ahead. “2020 marks our ten-year anniversary,” she notes. “It’s been an exciting ride and we’re really sad that we weren’t able to celebrate with our friends and colleagues, but hopefully we can do some catching up in the new future.”