'The Elephant Odyssey' showcases China's conservation progress

"The Elephant Odyssey," China's first IMAX original documentary on Asian elephants, premiered in Beijing on Oct. 21, showcasing the country's ecological conservation achievements through authentic footage of a wild elephant herd's 1,300-kilometer trek across Yunnan province.

Guests pose at the premiere of "The Elephant Odyssey" in Beijing, Oct. 21, 2026. [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]

Directed by documentary filmmaker Alice Gu and shot by Clair Popkin, a cinematographer on the Academy Award-winning documentary "Free Solo," "The Elephant Odyssey" is a Filmed for IMAX production and a joint effort by teams from China, Canada, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom. The creative team spent three years making the film.

"The Elephant Odyssey" brings true stories of elephants to the IMAX screen for the first time. The first storyline begins in March 2020, when a herd of wild elephants left a nature reserve in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, and trekked about 500 km north to the provincial capital, Kunming, arriving in June 2021. The odyssey captivated the world as people watched how Chinese authorities and residents would handle the giant animals after they wandered into populated areas. The elephants later headed south again and, with human help, returned safely to the nature reserve.

The second storyline follows A Bao, a lone young elephant rescued in 2018 after straying into downtown Pu'er, Yunnan province. He underwent years of rehabilitation and rewilding training before his release in May 2024, becoming the first rescued Asian elephant in China to successfully return to the wild.

"I'm so thrilled to share this film with you. Filming on IMAX in Yunnan was the adventure of a lifetime," Gu said in a video message. "Capturing A Bao and his release that morning is a memory I will never forget. I hope that you will all feel the same sense of awe, wonder and magic that we all did."

Popkin said filming alongside the herd was awe-inspiring. "I was struck not only by the elephants' immense life force but also by the cross-species trust and bond between humans and elephants," he said. "The quiet rapport and gentleness shared in their day-to-day interactions are more stirring than any play of light and shadow within this rainforest. It taught me that the most powerful imagery can never be staged."

The crew made multiple trips deep into Yunnan's tropical rainforests to document the Chinese government's measures to protect Asian elephants, presenting China's approach to biodiversity conservation. In IMAX theaters, the film will show nearly one-third more of the picture, and selected IMAX GT theaters will fill the entire screen in a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, capturing the grandeur of the natural world and the herd's journey.

"For wild creatures, there's no second take," Popkin added. "Every frame we captured is unique, and what makes these moments so precious goes beyond the visuals themselves. It lies in the mutual goodwill and connection between living beings. Capturing this journey on IMAX cameras holds special meaning for me. IMAX embraces the sweeping grandeur of the rainforest world while retaining delicate textures, from dappled forest light to the grain of elephant skin."

A behind-the-scenes photo of "The Elephant Odyssey." [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]

The film is executive produced by China International Communications Group (CICG), the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee and the China Film Co-Production Corporation, with guidance from the State Council Information Office and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration). Producers include China International Publishing Center (CIPC), IMAX and Beach House Pictures, and co-producers include Foreign Languages Press, Yunnan Lucent Pictures and Anhui Film Group.

Zhao Ling, executive deputy Party secretary of CIPC, said "The Elephant Odyssey" showcases China's ecological conservation achievements through authentic footage, builds a platform for mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and foreign civilizations through cross-border co-production, and explores an effective way to tell China's story to the world through emotional resonance.

"'The Elephant Odyssey' represents an exciting step forward for IMAX, reflecting our expanding role beyond theatrical exhibition into content creation," said Daniel Manwaring, CEO of IMAX China. "By bringing together our strengths as a co-producer, technology innovator and global exhibition platform, we see new opportunities to create value across the filmmaking ecosystem."

Felix Feng, general manager of Beach House Pictures China, said the film will open across China on Oct. 23 and then in IMAX theaters worldwide. He said the film aims to bring viewers face to face with the elephant herd, show real conservation work and convey the essence of China's approach to ecological conservation. It also seeks to build bridges of communication, tell China's story from an international perspective and help audiences from different countries find common ground, he added.