Cuttlefish. These shape-shifting creatures can hypnotize their prey, impersonate the opposite sex and even kill with lightening fast speed. More accomplished masters of disguise than any chameleon, they have an incredible ability to morph their skin colour -- even their shape -- to blend into almost any background. And they have the largest brain-to-body ratio of all the invertebrates. But are they capable of learning and remembering complex tasks? With beautiful underwater footage and in-depth expert interviews, CUTTLEFISH gets up close and personal with these bizarre and amazing animals.
In this multi award winning documentary we join Australia's cephalopod expert Dr. Mark Norman in his quest to examine Cuttlefish species from the cold waters of Southern Australia, to the tropical seas of Indonesia. Relatives of Octopus and Squid, Cuttlefish have the largest brain to body ratio of all invertebrates and the film explores their human like intelligence and how scientists now believe that these bizarre creatures may have one of the best brains on earth. These kings of camouflage are one of the most intriguing animals on our planet and as we follow these beautiful creatures going about their business, we discover that some of them have a deadly secret.
Produced by Kaufmann Productions, Australia
In Co-Production with WDR/Germany & ARTE
In Association with ABC, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Principal Investor: Film Finance Corporation Australia.
Additional Awards for Cuttlefish The Brainy Bunch
Best Professional Underwater Production
10th International Underwater Film Festival
Serbia, December 2006
Best Underwater Cinematography
Merit Award for Animal Behaviour
IWFF - International Wildlife Film Festival
USA, April 2007
Dolphin Award (Best Underwater Documentary) - Finalist
Fire Award (Best Picture Editing) - Finalist
Wildlife Asia Film Festival
Singapore, March 07
Best TV Program mid-budget - Finalist
IWFF - International Wildlife Film Festival
USA, April 05
Silver Screen Award
Nature & Wildlife Documentaries
US International Film & Video Festival
USA, June 2007
Rockie Award - Finalist
Best Popular Science & Natural History Program
BANFF World Media Festival
Canada, June 2007
Best Film Editing
Green Screen Nature Film Festival
Germany, September 2007
Best Animal Behaviour
4th CMS VATAVARAN Environment & Wildlife Film Festival
India, October 2007
Rolex Award of Highest Achievement
Professional feature length films
6th Celebrate the Sea Festival (CTS)
Philippines, September 2007
Prix de la Recherche Scientifique - Best Scientific Research
39th Festival International Du Film Maritime, D’Exploration & D’Environment
France, October 2007
Best Documentary Science, Technology & the Environment
ATOM Awards
Australia, October 2007
Gold Award Best Wildlife & Nature Film
ACS (Australian Cinematographers Society) State Awards
Australia, November 2007
Best Sound in a Documentary
ASSG Awards (Australian Screen Sound Guild)
Australia, November 07
Best Science & Nature Documentary – Finalist
Goethe Institute Science Film Festival
Thailand, November 2007
Best Cinematography in a Documentary
Best Editing in a Documentary – Finalist
Best Sound in a Documentary – Finalist
AFI Awards (Australian Film Institute)
Australia, December 2007
Grand Festival Award: Best Documentary
Gold World Medal Nature & Wildlife
New York Festivals
USA, February 2008
Best International Documentary – Finalist
4th Pacific International Documentary Film Festival – FIFO
Tahiti, February 2008
Best Documentary – Finalist
5th WAGA Brothers International Festival of Nature Films
Poland, April 2008
Best Wildlife Documentary – Finalist
18th Bird & Nature Film Festival of Abbeville
France, April 2008
Golden Award Best Documentary Research & Science
World Media Festival
Germany, May 2008
Golden Tripod Best Wildlife & Nature Film
ACS (Australian Cinematographers Society) National Awards
Australia, May 2008
PANDA Award – Finalist
Animal Behaviour
Wildscreen Film Festival
UK, October 2008
Best Nature Documentary – Finalist
Nature Film Festival of Namur
Belgium, October 2008
Best Professional Underwater Film
North Sea Film Festival
Netherlands, November 2008