PORTLAND, Ore. (February 14, 2018) - AMAZON ADVENTURE, based on the true story of explorer Henry Walter Bates, opens at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Friday, February 16. Playing on the 4-story screen of the Empirical Theater, AMAZON ADVENTURE is a compelling detective tale of peril, perseverance, and ultimately, success, drawing audiences into the fascinating world of animal mimicry, the astonishing phenomenon where one animal adopts the look of another, to gain a survival advantage.

"The Giant Screen is the ideal format to take audiences to places they might not normally go and to see amazing creatures they might not normally see," said Executive Producer Jonathan Barker, CEO of SK Films. "From a humble background, with an unstoppable passion for science and life, Bates played guitar, had a pet monkey, relied on Amazonian natives to survive and learned many of their languages. He made crucial contributions to our understanding of the natural world and should be more widely known, which is why we're thrilled to introduce his remarkable story to the public."

Bates risked his life for science during his 11-year expedition into the Amazon rainforest and provided "the beautiful proof" to Charles Darwin for his then controversial theory of natural selection, the scientific explanation for the development of life on Earth.

Painstakingly researched for three years, AMAZON ADVENTURE enlisted the expertise of more than 100 scientists and historical advisors. The team's commitment to authenticity resulted in this rigorous re-creation, using actual instruments and tools from the 1850s and incorporating many of Bates' own words into the script, as he was a gifted storyteller.

The film, a co-production between Canada, the UK and Brazil, was granted unprecedented access by the Natural History Museum of London to film Bates' own scientific field notebooks, botanical drawings and the butterflies he personally collected over 160 years ago.

Developed and produced in close collaboration with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, AMAZON ADVENTURE also received major funding from the National Science Foundation through the film's educational outreach partner, Pacific Science Center. Other key partners include the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Simons Foundation, and Foxconn Brazil and Vale.

AMAZON ADVENTURE opens at OMSI on February 16. Tickets to the film are $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for youth (ages 3-13), and $7 for seniors (ages 63+). Guests can purchase tickets online, via phone at 503.797.4000 or in person at the museum. For more information, visit www.omsi.edu.

About SK FILMS
SK Films is a Toronto-based, multi-platform entertainment content provider and a world leader in 3D film production and distribution. The company was founded in 1998 by Jonathan Barker and the late Robert Kerr, the visionary co-founder of IMAX Corporation.

About HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a production company established and funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an extension of its longstanding science education mission. Dedicated to the creation of original science documentaries for broadcast, theatrical and digital distribution, the company's award-winning programs address important contemporary issues and capture compelling stories of discovery across all branches of scientific inquiry. For more information, please visit www.tangledbankstudios.org.

About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation's leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI operates the largest museum-based outdoor science education program in the country and provides traveling and community outreach programs that bring science learning opportunities to schools and community organizations in nearly every county in Oregon. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit omsi.edu.