This April, PBS SoCal rolls out a visually arresting trifecta of reimagined IMAX classics—EVEREST, CORAL REEF ADVENTURE and IRELAND—from the world-renowned MacGillivray Freeman Films, directed by two-time Academy Award® nominee Greg MacGillivray and narrated by Liam Neeson. The remastered series launches as part of PBS SoCal’s Earth Month programming, inviting viewers to step into some of the most majestic and fragile environments on the planet.
But these films aren’t just pretty pictures. They’re evidence—shot on 70mm celluloid, sometimes at great personal risk—of a world worth saving. In an exclusive interview, I got the chance to interview Greg and his son/film producer Shaun MacGillivray to discuss the stories behind the lens and the legacy these films leave for the new generation.
EVEREST: Tragedy, Triumph, and the Summit of Humanity
Premiering April 2 on PBS SoCal, EVEREST documents the harrowing 1996 climb following one of the mountain’s deadliest disasters. What began as an effort to capture the first IMAX footage from the top of the world evolved into something haunting and human when a sudden storm claimed seven lives. “We were thrust into a global event,” Greg recalls. “The internet had just emerged, and people were receiving updates in real-time. It was the first Everest expedition of its kind.”
Greg spent a year modifying IMAX cameras to withstand Everest’s conditions, training with Sherpas, and assembling a crew capable of handling the brutal climb. The result? A film that would become the highest-grossing giant-screen documentary of all time. “It’s about resilience,” says Shaun, who was a teenager when the film was made. “And it still moves people today. It inspires them to connect with nature and each other.”
IRELAND: An Emerald Awakening
Launching April 1 on PBS SoCal Plus, IRELAND is more than a postcard-perfect travelogue. It’s a reflection on peace, change, and identity. Through the lens of four Irish teens and the narration of Northern Ireland-born Liam Neeson, the film explores a post-Troubles Ireland, a nation reborn with unity and curiosity.
“Ireland has transformed dramatically in the last 30 years,” Greg says. “We centered the story on young people because they carry that duality—they remember, but they’re moving forward.”
Shot during a miraculous six-week stretch of flawless weather, the team captured sweeping aerials of Skellig Michael, the Cliffs of Moher, and ancient stone circles. “We wanted it to feel magical,” Shaun adds. “To show Ireland in its best light. And Liam’s voice—his connection to the land—grounds it beautifully.”
CORAL REEF ADVENTURE: Diving Deep into Urgency
CORAL REEF ADVENTURE, airing April 9, takes viewers beneath the waves of the South Pacific in a breathtaking underwater odyssey. Led by legendary divers Howard and Michele Hall, the documentary exposes the raw beauty and the mounting threat of coral bleaching.
Filmed over two years, it remains the deepest open-ocean IMAX shoot ever recorded. “We captured over 400,000 feet of film,” Greg says. “Because the coral was dying before our eyes. We had to tell the story.”
Shaun emphasizes the artistry: “This was a Hollywood production under the sea—massive lighting rigs, full set builds. The colors are unreal. The experience is immersive, but the message is sobering: we must protect these fragile ecosystems.”
Earth Month, Legacy, and Why It Still Matters
PBS SoCal’s Earth Month rollout isn’t nostalgia—it’s a call to attention. “These films aren’t just about landscapes,” Greg reflects. “They’re about our relationship with the Earth. I want my grandchildren to stand on those cliffs, dive in those reefs, and breathe that mountain air.”
MacGillivray Freeman Films also runs One World One Ocean, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation storytelling. “Our goal is to inspire curiosity,” Shaun adds. “To get people to read, to ask questions, to get outside and care.”
With these timeless documentaries, airing for the first time on U.S. broadcast television in their remastered form, PBS SoCal gives us a chance to reconnect—through story, sound, and staggering visuals—with the world we share.
Where to Watch
Stream all films at pbssocal.org/earthmonth or via the PBS App.
EVEREST: Premieres Wed., April 2 at 7 p.m. PT on PBS SoCal; Encore on PBS SoCal Plus, Sun., April 6 at 8 p.m.
CORAL REEF ADVENTURE: Premieres Wed., April 9 at 7 p.m. PT on PBS SoCal; Encore on PBS SoCal Plus, Sun., April 13 at 8 p.m.
IRELAND: Premieres Tues., April 1 at 6:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus; Encore on Mon., April 28 at 4:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Photo credits: Everest image Courtesy of Martin Jernberg. Ireland image courtesy of Henrique Craveiro. Coral reef image courtesy of Hiroko Yoshii. Earth image courtesy of Javier Miranda.
