Today, Disney+ announced that the critically acclaimed and heartwarming film āBlinkā from National Geographic Documentary Films will premiere December 26, 2024 on Disney+ in Canada. The streaming service will feature a special English audio description version from launch, offering additional accessibility to audiences. The original version of the documentary will also be available on the platform with French subtitles.
The feature documentary from directors Edmund Stenson and OscarĀ® and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Roher was released in over 250 theatres across the U.S. and Canada by Walt Disney Studios in October. Produced by Oscar and BAFTA Award-winners Melanie Miller, p.g.a., and Diane Becker, p.g.a., for Fishbowl Films, alongside MRC and EyeSteelFilm, āBlinkā premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival going on to screen at Camden International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival and London Film Festival, among others. Releasing this holiday season, āBlinkā is a film to be enjoyed with the whole family.
Hailed as āheartwarmingā by Indiewire, āmovingā by Variety and āprofoundā by Collider, āBlinkā features French Canadian couple Edith Lemay and SĆ©bastien Pelletier and their children, Mia, LĆ©o, Colin and Laurent. Mia developed eye problems at the age of three and was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age seven, a rare, incurable disease that leads to severe visual impairment. When her younger brothers Colin and Laurent received the same diagnosis, the familyās world changed forever. In the face of this life-altering news, they decided to set out on a journey around the world to build their visual memory and experience all its beauty while they still can.
āWe were so happy to see how āBlinkā resonated with theatrical audiences of all ages this fall, and we couldnāt be more thrilled to be working with National Geographic to bring it to Disney+,ā said directors Stenson and Roher. āThereās no better home for this film, and we like to imagine that families across the world will huddle around their screens this holiday season and laugh, cry and explore the world with the endlessly inspiring Lemay-Pelletier family.ā
āWe are delighted to bring this heartwarming film to our television and streaming audience after its impactful theatrical run,ā says Carolyn Bernstein, executive vice president of Documentary Films for National Geographic. āāBlinkā is the perfect family-friendly film going into the holidays and embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration at the heart of the National Geographic brand. We canāt wait for audiences everywhere to be inspired by the remarkable Lemay-Pelletier family as they journey around the world and into an unknown future.ā
Initially delayed by the global pandemic, the family revised their plans countless times before setting out in March 2022 without an itinerary. They worked together to compile a bucket list of destinations and activities that guided their travels, with no idea too out there: swimming with dolphins, hot air ballooning, surfing, seeing the sunrise on a mountain, and Laurentās suggestion to drink juice on a camel. āWe never found out where this crazy idea came from, but it was very dear to him and made us all laugh,ā Lemay said.
The film follows the family over the course of a year as they traverse 24 countries, filling their visual memories with breathtaking locations and once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Their destinations included Botswana, Cambodia, Canada (Montreal and Kuujjuaq), China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Laos, Namibia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States (New York City), Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Maximizing their ground transportation, the family avoided flying as much as possible. One of their goals was also to meet people by staying in guest houses and homestays rather than hotels wherever possible. Throughout their journey, the familyās love, resilience and unshakeable sense of wonder ensure that their uncertain future does not define their present.
āBlinkā features Edith Lemay, SeĢbastien Pelletier, Mia Pelletier, LeĢo Pelletier, Colin Pelletier, Laurent Pelletier, FrancĢ§ois Lemay and Pauline Sirois. The film is directed by Edmund Stenson and Academy and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Roher. It is produced by Academy and BAFTA Award-winners Melanie Miller (p.g.a) and Diane Becker (p.g.a) for Fishbowl Films, in association with MRC and EyeSteelFilm. Co-producers include Ann Rogers and Christina Radburn, with Madison Horton and Kelsey van den Bergh serving as associate producers. Music is by Tamar-Kali, with additional music created by Hunter Hanson and Steve Wright. It is edited by Ryan Mullins and Miranda Yousef (ACE). Jean-SeĢbastien Francoeur serves as director of photography. Executive producers include Amit Dey and Eyesteelās Bob Moore. Carolyn Bernstein serves as executive producer for National Geographic Documentary Films.
Since its inception in 2017, National Geographic Documentary Films has been lauded around the world for telling timely, gripping and globally relevant stories. It released the Academy, BAFTA and seven-time EmmyĀ® Award-winning film āFree Solo,ā the Academy Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning āBobi Wine: The Peopleās President,ā the Academy and BAFTA Award-nominated and Peabody and DGA Award-winning āFire of Love,ā and the Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning film āThe Cave.ā In 2024, its slate included āSugarcaneā which has collected 17 awards at film festivals to date, as well as āEndurance,ā which premiered in October at London Film Festival. In recent years, the film bannerās slate has also included the duPont-Columbia Award and two-time Sundance Award winner āThe Territory,ā BAFTA nominees āThe Rescueā and āBecoming Cousteau,ā Emmy Award winners āThe First Wave,ā āLA 92ā and āJaneā and many other critically acclaimed features and shorts.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com