A Canadian documentary project won the top prize in the Global Doc Competition at the World Congress for Science and Factual Producers earlier this month in Marrakesh, Morocco. Ancient Baby Beasts, pitched by Ari A. Cohen of Montreal’s Rotating Planet Productions, won the prize for its story that follows the life of a tyrannosaur from its hatching to maturity.
The film, which is set for a 2026 premiere and will be broadcast on CBC’s The Nature of Things, draws upon new research and fossil discoveries by a fresh generation of paleontologists.
“For the first time, we are revealing the earliest moments of the planet’s most ferocious predator as a vulnerable baby growing up in a dangerous world,” Cohen said in a release. “I appreciate the support from the world’s leading public broadcasters coming together to bolster innovative and creative films. It’s very emotional for me to return to Morocco and represent both my birthplace and Canada at this event.”
Ancient Baby Beasts was one of three projects selected to pitch from 50 submissions. A jury of representatives from international broadcasters determined the finalists with the audience selecting the winner.
Previous docs from Rotating Planet Productions include From Africa to the Arctic (2015), The Family Farm (2014), and The Instrument Bank (2010).
