Geneva, 17 June, 2011 -  Tipping Point, a European Broadcasting Union (EBU)* documentary which highlights the acidification of the worlds’ oceans, has been awarded the Special Prize of Prince Rainer III at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival**.  The prize is awarded to the programme which best deals with nature conservation and the environment, the protection of threatened fauna and flora and the fight against pollution.

Tipping Point explores different oceans around the world to discover how ocean acidification is changing marine ecosystems.  The world's leading marine scientists warn that current rates of carbon emissions are making the oceans more acidic. The speed at which it is happening poses a serious threat to biodiversity and marine life.

Through beautifully shot under-sea images and a careful scientific approach, the film tackles the main issues of this relatively new phenomenon by providing solutions before it’s too late.

The documentary describes research performed in the framework of the European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA), a recent ambitious scientific journey involving more than 100 researchers from 9 different countries.  

Tipping Point was produced by the producer/director of Public Enemy Number 1: Carbon,  and Gulf Stream, Nicolas Koutsikas. Both these documentaries were successfully distributed worldwide. Tipping Point is also co-directed by Laurence Jourdan.

The EBU co-production includes the participation of CYBC (Cyprus), RTP (Portugal), NRK (Norway), RTÉ (Ireland), UR (Sweden) and SNRT (Morocco).  The internationally acclaimed production received the financial participation of the European Commission - Directorate General of Research.

Tipping Point also won the Best 2011 Science Documentary Award at the Italian Vedere la Scienza Festival and the Best Scientific Movie Award at the 2011 Mediterranean Film Festival.

Further Information:
Tipping Point Trailer   l   Award Ceremony video

Note to editors:
*The EBU serves 85 national media organizations in 56 countries in and around Europe. It represents its Members and promotes the values and distinctiveness of public service media in Europe and around the world. The Eurovision and Euroradio networks deliver news, sports, events and music to EBU Members and other media organizations. Services to Members range from legal advice, technical standardization and development to coproduction and exchange of quality European content.  For more information about the EBU: www.ebu.ch or follow the EBU on Twitter: @EBU_Eurovision

** The 2011 Monte-Carlo TV Festival, which brings international recognition to the best of television programming, took place in Monte-Carlo from 6 to 10 June 2011.