Miramax Films has acquired North American rights to Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt's feature-length documentary Deep Blue, produced by the UK's BBC Worldwide and Germany's Greenlight Media.

Inspired by David Attenborough's international hit TV series The Blue Planet, Deep Blue explores life above, below and far beneath the ocean's surface with a score by Oscar-nominated composer George Fenton. The documentary had its world premiere at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in September

"Deep Blue is a breathtaking film that is at once entertaining and emotionally involving. Groundbreaking photography and a fantastic score make this real-life undersea adventure an epic cinematic experience," said Miramax's executive vice president of acquisitions and co-productions Agnes Mentre.

Nikolaus Weil, chief operating officer of Greenlight Media, which is also handling worldwide sales of Deep Blue and who negotiated the deal with Miramax, added: "This is a powerful and emotional film that contains wonderful entertainment values. We know the strength and benefits of having a major distributor behind the film and we're delighted that Miramax will distribute in North America."

Deep Blue is the first of five major documentary co-productions planned between BBC Worldwide and Greenlight Media and has also been sold to Japan, Spain, France and the UK. Kinowelt will release the film into German cinemas on 29 January 2004.