Hollywood dinosaur film comes to Bristol Aquarium as giant jawbones go on display

Bristol Aquarium is thrilled to announce that it will be hosting the internationally acclaimed documentary "WHY DINOSAURS?"

The red-carpet event, which is part of a mini UK tour, is scheduled for Wednesday 5 June 2024, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

"WHY DINOSAURS?" follows dino-obsessed teenager James Pinto and his father on a global quest, interviewing over 65 experts from various fields related to dinosaurs, including leading scientists and artists among Jurassic Park fans. They explore themes from museum displays to blockbuster films, unearthing what fascinates us about these prehistoric creatures.

James Pinto, who narrates the film, shares, "This movie explores the myriad ways in which people connect with dinosaurs, providing a unique look into the lives and careers of those who study them."

On their global adventure, the father-son duo track down the director of Jurassic World, see the world’s largest dinosaur toy collection, and dig up real dinosaur bones. The ground-breaking documentary had its official premiere in Hollywood last November.

Attendees will have a rare opportunity to meet and interact with paleontology experts, including Kallie Moore, co-host of PBS Eons, Jessica Lippincott of the Wyoming Dinosaurium Project, and acclaimed paleontologist, author and TV host Dr. Dean Lomax, who is also a scientist at the University of Bristol.

Lomax is one of the leading experts in the film and an Executive Producer, and recently made global headlines with his latest discovery of a blue whale-sized ichthyosaur, which he and his team named Ichthyotitan severnensis.

Dr Lomax added, “As an 1851 research fellow here at the University of Bristol, I wanted to bring the film to the city and give people an opportunity to walk the red carpet and watch this exciting dinosaur movie. Moreover, I’m very excited to say that the bones of the recently announced Ichthyotitan, the giant ichthyosaur co-discovered by then-11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and announced last month (in April), will also be on display at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, to coincide with the screening of “WHY DINOSAURS?”.

Two giant jaw bones were found along the Somerset coastline, one by Paul de la Salle in 2016 and the other by Justin Reynolds and Ruby Reynolds in 2020. The bones are from an ichthyosaur estimated to have been around 25 metres long and lived 202 million years ago during the Triassic Period.

Palaeontologists from Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will also attend the screening and give members of the public an opportunity to see some real, multi-million-year-old fossils.

Deborah Hutchinson from the museum added, “It is fantastic to see this wonderful, inspiring documentary here in Bristol and to be able to bring some real fossils for the screening for people to experience is even better. The incredible Ichthyotitan fossils have recently gone on display at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and we can’t wait to share their incredible story with our visitors.”

​Chloe O’Dell, Events Manager of Bristol Aquarium, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, "We are honoured to host the amazing team behind 'WHY DINOSAURS?' here in Bristol at the former IMAX Theatre.

It's a fantastic opportunity to bring this exceptional film and its creators to an area so famed for the creation of amazing documentaries. We anticipate that guests will delight in viewing this film on the biggest screen in Bristol!

The red carpet reception will begin at 6:00 PM and the screening of "WHY DINOSAURS?" will commence at 7:15 PM. The evening will conclude with an engaging Q&A session, allowing the audience to delve deeper into the making of the documentary and the scientific wonders it explores.

“WHY DINOSAURS?” isn’t the traditional computer-generated dinosaur reconstructions and celebrity-narrated prehistoric documentary,” said Producer Tony Pinto, who also primarily filmed and edited. “Instead, we introduce the genuine voices of working palaeontologists, science communicators, artists, and dinosaur fanatics to tell a brief history of palaeontology and explore the world’s fascination with dinosaurs in popular culture.”

Tickets are available from £15 to £20. This event promises to be a thrilling journey into the age of dinosaurs, appealing to enthusiasts of all ages.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.whydinosaurs.com/watch.

Bristol Aquarium is situated on the historic harbourside and takes visitors on an underwater adventure through the world’s oceans. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.bristolaquarium.co.uk or call 0117 929 8929.