YouTube’s ‘Life in a Day’ Picked up by National Geographic Films (VIDEO)

Need more proof that user-generated content is the next big thing?  National Geographic Films has picked up U.S. distribution rights to the YouTube film “Life in a Day”, the historic global experiment to create a user-generated documentary film that Blippitt first told you about back in July.

The non-profit will release the film theatrically together with YouTube on July 24, which will be exactly one year after the film’s footage was shot by users around the world.

The world premiere of the film will take place on Thursday night at the Eccles Theatre in Park City as part of the Sundance Film Festival “Premieres” section (you can watch it live here at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, 1/27/11).

Kevin Macdonald directed the user-generated film, which Ridley Scott executive produced through his Scott Free U.K.

Last summer, YouTube users worldwide were invited to film part of their daily lives on July 24, 2010, and then submit that footage for potential inclusion in the feature-length documentary organized by Macdonald and edited by Joe Walker.

More than 80,000 submissions from 192 countries were eventually winnowed down to approximately 1,000 clips that are woven through the film.

“‘Life in a Day’ is unique, contemporary and exciting, but what surprised me about the film is how emotional, powerful and involving it is,” said National Geographic Films president Daniel Battsek.  “For that, the credit goes to all the amateur filmmakers who contributed and, of course, to Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald, who managed to create such an innovative and powerful cinematic experience.”

Anna Bateson, YouTube’s director of marketing, says, “What started as an innovative idea has grown into an incredible film.  National Geographic’s support will create additional avenues for audiences across the U.S. to see Life in a Day.”

Check out more details in the videos below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2NiaCNGR8s

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• YouTube film debuting at Sundance (sfgate.com)
• Experience Sundance From Home In The YouTube Screening Room (socialtimes.com)
• User-Generated Documentary LIFE IN A DAY Will Stream Live on YouTube January 27th (collider.com)
• Ridley Scott’s Life In A Day YouTube Movie Gets A Trailer (reelseo.com)
• YouTube Offers First Glimpse of Crowd-Sourced Documentary (mashable.com)
• First look at Ridley Scott’s YouTube movie (thenextweb.com)