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SYNOPSIS
The largest treasure haul ever found underwater makes headlines worldwide, but soon, attention turns to who really won the half-billion dollar treasure of the mysteriously code-named "Black Swan"?
Fearing one of their most prized historical treasures has been uncovered, the Kingdom of Spain takes on salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration for the treasure.
As the two sides fight it out in a Tampa court, it soon becomes clear that not all is what it seems... Using unique techniques developed for the series Drain the Oceans, the extent of the treasure on the seabed is revealed for the first time, and the debate of 'who owns history' is taken to a whole new level.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Christopher Riley is a double BAFTA and triple Grierson-nominated documentary film director and writer specialising in science, engineering and history. He has directed and produced more than thirty films for the BBC, Film4, Netflix, Disney, National Geographic, The Discovery Channel and the Smithsonian, and has written and directed commercial shorts and branded content for HSBC, Vodafone and architects Foster + Partners.
Chris co-wrote The Moonwalkers with Tom Hanks; an immersive film which premiered at Light Room in London in December 2023, to five star reviews, and at Light Room Seoul in June 2024 and Space Centre Houston in March 2025.
AWARDS & SCREENINGS
New York Festivals - Gold Medal 2023
BAFTA nomination - 2023
- Year2021
- Runtime46 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited Kingdom
- DirectorChristopher Riley
- ProducerNigel Walk
- Executive ProducerMallinson Sadler Productions

SYNOPSIS
The largest treasure haul ever found underwater makes headlines worldwide, but soon, attention turns to who really won the half-billion dollar treasure of the mysteriously code-named "Black Swan"?
Fearing one of their most prized historical treasures has been uncovered, the Kingdom of Spain takes on salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration for the treasure.
As the two sides fight it out in a Tampa court, it soon becomes clear that not all is what it seems... Using unique techniques developed for the series Drain the Oceans, the extent of the treasure on the seabed is revealed for the first time, and the debate of 'who owns history' is taken to a whole new level.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Christopher Riley is a double BAFTA and triple Grierson-nominated documentary film director and writer specialising in science, engineering and history. He has directed and produced more than thirty films for the BBC, Film4, Netflix, Disney, National Geographic, The Discovery Channel and the Smithsonian, and has written and directed commercial shorts and branded content for HSBC, Vodafone and architects Foster + Partners.
Chris co-wrote The Moonwalkers with Tom Hanks; an immersive film which premiered at Light Room in London in December 2023, to five star reviews, and at Light Room Seoul in June 2024 and Space Centre Houston in March 2025.
AWARDS & SCREENINGS
New York Festivals - Gold Medal 2023
BAFTA nomination - 2023
- Year2021
- Runtime46 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited Kingdom
- DirectorChristopher Riley
- ProducerNigel Walk
- Executive ProducerMallinson Sadler Productions