Sir David Attenborough awarded IBC Honour for Excellence

Sir David Attenborough will be presented with the IBC 2011 International Honour for Excellence. The wildlife documentary expert has been honoured in recognition of a career spanning almost 60 years in television and, in particular, natural history.

“Sir David Attenborough has been called ‘the greatest broadcaster of our time’, and throughout his career he has seized upon the latest developments in technology to illuminate natural history,” said Peter Owen, chairman of the IBC Council. “Working with the BBC Natural History Unit he pioneered time-lapse sequences in The Private Life of Plants and low-light and infrared cameras to capture the behaviour of nocturnal mammals. Today he is working with Atlantic Productions on stunning 3D programmes, including Flying Monsters, the first 3D programme to win a BAFTA Award.”

The IBC Awards Ceremony, which will include a tribute to Sir David Attenborough and a look at the latest stereoscopic 3D wildlife programmes presented by Atlantic Productions, will take place at IBC in Amsterdam on Sunday September 11.

Attenborough said “I am greatly honoured to receive this award from IBC. Throughout my career I have used the best technology available. When I started this was 16mm film, which gave us lightweight cameras to take into the wild. Since then my journey has taken me from black and white to colour and from film to digital high definition, and today I am excited to be involved in 3D production, which really immerses the viewer in the scene.

“I have worked with the best people in the business, including the BBC Natural History Unit and now Atlantic Productions, and some extraordinarily patient and skilled cameramen and directors. Making wildlife television – whether it was Zoo Quest in the 1950s or Flying Monsters today – is hugely collaborative. I know that IBC encourages and develops collaborations between programme makers and technologists, which makes this award particularly special. Thank you, IBC.”