Amazon Prime Video today announced at the Prime Video Presents event in Sydney a new Australian Amazon Original feature-length documentary, Burning
Burning takes an unflinching look at the deadly Australian bushfires of 2019-2020, known as ‘Black Summer.’ Fueled by climate change, the nation’s hottest and driest summer ever recorded resulted in bushfires that burned over 46 million acres, killed an estimated three billion animals, and affected millions of Australians. Burning is an exploration of what happened as told from the perspective of victims of the fires, activists and scientists.
Burning is Directed by Academy and Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Eva Orner, who also serves as Producer and Executive Producer, alongside Academy and Golden-Globe Award-winning actor and producer Cate Blanchett as Executive Producer.
“We are pleased to be introducing this timely and globally relevant documentary to our growing Amazon Australian Originals line up,” said Erika North, Head of Originals, Asia Pacific, at Amazon Studios. “Burning tells an important Australian story and shines a light on the global issue of climate change. With the immensely talented Eva Orner and Cate Blanchett at the helm, we know this is a documentary that will resonate with audiences both locally and around the world.”
“The 2019-2020 Australian bushfires made headlines around the world as over 46 million acres of the country and an estimated three billion animals were killed, with entire towns and communities wiped out, and many ecosystems left on the brink of collapse,” said Cate Blanchett, Executive Producer. “I wanted to be part of the exploration, not only of how this disaster happened but of the actions we can and must make moving forward. It’s a privilege to be working with Eva Orner and Propagate Content on this timely and important documentary, and I applaud Amazon Studios for their support of the project.”
“Along with the rest of the world, I watched in horror as Australia burned over what has become known as ‘Black Summer’. Visiting home and family during the fires, I saw Sydney shrouded in thick smoke, watched friends lose their home and bore witness to a 47 degree Celcius day in Melbourne in December.
This was not normal! The scale of devastation, loss of life and toll on wildlife was beyond comprehension,” said Eva Orner. “Fires are certainly not new in Australia, but the magnitude, impact and ferocity was shocking and unprecedented. I was determined to make a film about our ‘Black Summer’ and climate change. What we knew and what we urgently must do moving forward. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Propagate Content, the Amazon Studios team and Executive Producer – the legendary Cate Blanchett, to tell this urgent and important story to a global audience.”
Burning is produced by Propagate Content, Amazon Studios and Dirty Films. Produced by Eva Orner, with Executive Producers Eva Orner, Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Jonathan Schaerf from Propagate, and Cate Blanchett from Dirty Films. Eva Orner also directs.
