Rooted Media is a wildlife film production company based in South Africa, creating original documentaries and series for both local and international audiences. Founded by filmmakers Barend van der Watt and Henk Ekermans, the company combines a deep love for nature with a passion for visual storytelling — revealing the extraordinary beauty of the natural world through a fresh, creative lens.

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At Rooted Media, we believe that every living thing has a story worth telling. Whether we’re filming in forests, deserts, oceans, or on our own doorstep, our mission is to make viewers see the Earth as if for the first time — to find wonder in the small, the overlooked, and the unexpected.

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We produce, film, write, and edit all our work in-house, ensuring a distinct creative voice from concept to screen. Our team embraces innovation and new technology, shooting in 8K resolution and using cutting-edge drone and timelapse cinematography to capture breathtaking landscapes and the intricate rhythms of the wild.

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With acclaimed productions such as Rooted and Shells: Shaped by Nature, Rooted Media has earned a reputation for artistry, authenticity, and excellence. Together with our partners around the world, we continue to explore new frontiers in natural history filmmaking — one story, one species, one extraordinary detail at a time.

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