In March, gray whales start the journey back from their Mexican breeding grounds to their summer quarters off Alaska. Hugging the coast as they swim, these gentle giants occasionally surface for air and whale watchers turn out in droves to catch a glimpse.
Thanks to San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival, the largest ocean film festival on the planet, you can whale watch in the comfort of your own home. From April 15 – May 2 — 18 days of films to mark 18 years of saving the world’s oceans one film at a time — cetaceans, sharks, ships, surfers and countless other examples of sea life and sea love will scroll across your computer screens or smart TV at http://www.intloceanfilmfest.org. Tickets go on sale today.
“Spring has rarely felt as hopeful as it does this year, or been more eagerly anticipated,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival. “While it’s been a challenging year for everyone, we are able to continue bringing ocean inspired films to our global audiences, via our virtual Festival with more than 80 films, including features, shorts, and themed programs, plus our conversations with filmmakers and ocean experts.”
This year’s 18th Annual International Ocean Film Festival is marked with 18 days of ocean-focused, independent films. The Festival will screen a record 80 films from 17 countries, including 10 premieres and 9 award-winners. In addition, the Festival will hosting lively Q&A panels with film directors, marine scientists, and industry experts, as they discuss the films and share insights into ocean conservation, preservation, and legislation. Also included for free will be the top 10 finalists from the Student Film Competition, featuring films from middle school and high school students (grades 6 through 12) from around the world. Last year, submissions were received films countries including the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia and Germany, to name a few.
According to Blanco, last year’s virtual oceans online Festival and Fall and Spring Online Education Programs were seen by a record breaking 10,000 people from 30 different countries.
The Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Culture, Surfing, Sharks, Female Filmmakers, and Conservation.
Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 700 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.
Current sponsors for the upcoming 18th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Consul General of Canada, RBC Wealth Management, Pacific Gas & Electric, The Joseph R. Parker Foundation, Service System Associates and the Orange County Community Foundation.
The International Ocean Film Festival encourages its patrons, supporters and partners to follow the most current advice from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for preventing the further spread of the COVID-19 in Northern California and beyond, and to stay tuned for announcements about International Ocean Film Festival events once the threat level is reduced.
The 18th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place April 15 – May 2, 2021 online at http://www.intloceanfilmfest.org. Possible in-person events, dependent upon COVID protocols, may be scheduled at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.
- http://www.intloceanfilmfest.org
- https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
- Twitter @oceanfilmfest
- Instagram @intloceanfilmfest
Following is the complete list for the 2021 18th International Ocean Film Festival:
Feature Films
- 50 Shades of Sharks (La vie privée des requins) Alexis Barbier-Bouvet , Didier Noirot, France
- Current Sea Christopher Smith, Malaysia
- The Deep Med (Planète Méditerranée ), Gil Kébaïli, France
- Descent Nays Baghai, Australia – USA PREMIERE
- Entangled David Abel, USA
- Escape from Extinction Matthew R. Brady, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Fish & Men Darby Duffin, Adam Jones, USA
- The Last Lightkeepers Rob Apse, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- The Long Coast Ian Cheney, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Nanuq – An Arctic Journey from Past to Future Emanuele Licitra, Italy – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Ocean Souls Philip Hamilton, Scott Wilson , United Kingdom – USA PREMIERE
- Three Arts in Antarctica (Trzy Sztuki w Antarktyce) Bartosz Stróżyński, Poland – BAY AREA PREMIERE
Whales
- Echoes In The Arctic Paul Nicklen, Tahria Sheather, Andy Maser, USA
- Entangled in Costa Rica Innoceana/The Vegan Pirates, Costa Rica – WORLD PREMIERE
- Faka’apa’apa Scott Sporleder, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Sentinels of Silence? Whale Watching, Noise, and the Orca Mark Pedelty, USA
- Whales in a Changing Ocean Richard Sidey, New Zealand
- Whales Without Walls (The Whale Sanctuary Project) Charles Vinick, Dr. Lori Marino, Michael Mountain, Matt Stamm, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
Environment
- Aguugum Tanaa (Our Sacred Place) Ryan Peterson, USA
- Changing Seas: “A Decade After Deepwater” Alexa Elliott, USA
- Finding Letter Six Andrea Reid, Shannon Switzer Swanson, Mikayla Wujec, USA
- Gáax’w Ka Haaw: Herring Eggs & Branches Tessa Ellie Schmidt, Lee House, United States – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- On the Brink (Menace sur les saumons de Colombie Britannique) Jeremy Mathieu, Canada – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Tsunami Memories Isaac Kerlow, USA – USA PREMIERE
Coastal Communities and Cultures
- BAJO : Guardians Of The Reef Alice Colfox, Boris Thompson-Roylance, United Kingdom
- dhīvaraḥ, Giridhar Nayak K, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- Homecoming: Journey to Limuw, Nick Zachar, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Kaitiaki (Guardians of the Sky, Sea and Land) Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand – USA PREMIERE
- Kiligivak (Mammoth) Laura Tejero, Jake Chamberlain, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- No Part Too Small Stanley Lin, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- One Word Sawalmem Natasha Deganello Giraudie, Michael “Pom” Preston, USA
- Yáa at Wooné (Respect for All Things) Kh’asheechtlaa (Louise Brady), Lee House, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
Marine Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation
- Aguugum Tanaa (Our Sacred Place) Ryan Peterson, USA
- Aurora Emilio José Álvarez García, Mexico – WORLD PREMIERE
- Changing Seas: “Peru’s Desert Penguins” Alexa Elliott, USA
- Guardians of Turtles Naman Govil, Mithun TM, India – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- How to Raise Baby Corals, Andrew Ackerman, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Ocean to the Everglades: Part 1 Isaac Mead-Long, USA – USA PREMIERE
- Reducing the Risk of Disasters through Nature-based Solutions – Mangroves Leo Thom, United States
- Restoring the Natural Mangrove Forest Leo Thom, United Kingdom – WORLD PREMIERE
Sharks
- Emperors of the Deep
- Great While Sharks Lakan Duskin, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- Healthy FISHing Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand – USA PREMIERE
- Mako Shark King of the Pelagic Realm, Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand
Ocean Shorts
- A Mako Stronghold Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand – USA PREMIERE
- Aurora Emilio José Álvarez García, Mexico – WORLD PREMIERE
- Blackwater – Anilao Style Walter Marti, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Discover Wonder: The Octopus Garden, John Dutton, USA
- Diving into the Underwater Galaxy, Fan Ping, China
- Great While Sharks Lakan Duskin, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- How to Raise Baby Corals, Andrew Ackerman, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- In the kelp of the fjords (Im Kelp der Fjorde), Guido Schmitz, Germany – USA PREMIERE
- Lens of Time: Corals in Motion Amy Miller, USA
- Lens of Time: Secrets of Schooling, Amy Miller, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Murder At Sea Mark Benjamin, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- The Ocean Calls Lauren-ann Smith, Australia
- On the Brink (Menace sur les saumons de Colombie Britannique) Jeremy Mathieu, Canada – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Sinhala JP Lewis, United Kingdom – WORLD PREMIERE
Sports/Ocean Exploration
- Blue Calling Sarah Ziegler, Janis Klinkenberg, Germany
- Determination – The Farallon Record, Danielle Sellwood, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- Lessons from Jeju Nicole Gormley, USA
- Lost At Sea, Johnny Burke, United Kingdom – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- The Ocean Calls Lauren-ann Smith, Australia
- Stories from the Blue: Discovering Inner Earth Nick Zachar, USA
Our Blue World
- Be There Be Present Greg Dennis, United Kingdom
- High As A Kite Steven Kovacs, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- Our Sea of Waste Morade Azzouz, Anca Ulea, France
- Réforme Plastics Cho Jin Yong, South Korea
- Voice Above Water, Dana Frankoff, USA
Female Director
- Barbara Crites: Snorkeling St John, USVI Andrea E. Leland, USA
- Bluepoint Alexandra Leinweber, USA
- Finding Letter Six Andrea Reid, Shannon Switzer Swanson, Mikayla Wujec, USA
- Into the Deep Unknown, Lincoln Else, Bligh Gillies, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Lessons from Jeju Nicole Gormley, USA
- The Ocean Calls Lauren-ann Smith, Australia
- Réforme Plastics Cho Jin Yong, South Korea
- Water Baby Katherine McRae, USA
- Yáa at Wooné (Respect for All Things) Kh’asheechtlaa (Louise Brady), Lee House, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
Surfing
- Caballito de Totora: Surfriders of Peru Phil Wilson, USA – USA PREMIERE
- Mar Olaf Crato, Portugal – USA PREMIERE
- Pause: Heidi Ida Slåtto Neerbye, Norway – USA PREMIERE
- Sinhala JP Lewis, United Kingdom – WORLD PREMIERE
- Unnur Chris Burkard, USA
Coral Reefs
- Barbara Crites: Snorkeling St John, USVI Andrea E. Leland, USA
- Changing Seas: “American Samoa’s Resilient Coral Reefs” Alexa Elliott, USA
- Coral Resiliency: The Marine Protected Areas of Taytay Gabriel Malvar, Philippines – WORLD PREMIERE
- The Green Wave – Tahiti Bouvet Emmanuel, France
- How to Raise Baby Corals, Andrew Ackerman, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Lens of Time: Corals in Motion Amy Miller, USA
Alphabetical List
- 360° SEA PLASTIC – Narrated by Tim Robbins Hendrik S. Schmitt, Germany
- 50 Shades of Sharks (La vie privée des requins) Alexis Barbier-Bouvet , Didier Noirot, France
- A Mako Stronghold Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand – USA PREMIERE
- Aguugum Tanaa (Our Sacred Place) Ryan Peterson, USA
- Aurora Emilio José Álvarez García, Mexico – WORLD PREMIERE
- BAJO : Guardians Of The Reef Alice Colfox, Boris Thompson-Roylance, United Kingdom
- Barbara Crites: Snorkeling St John, USVI Andrea E. Leland, USA
- Be There Be Present Greg Dennis, United Kingdom
- Blackwater – Anilao Style Walter Marti, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Blue Calling Sarah Ziegler, Janis Klinkenberg, Germany
- Bluepoint Alexandra Leinweber, USA
- Caballito de Totora: Surfriders of Peru Phil Wilson, USA – USA PREMIERE
- Changing Seas: “A Decade After Deepwater” Alexa Elliott, USA
- Changing Seas: “American Samoa’s Resilient Coral Reefs” Alexa Elliott, USA
- Changing Seas: “Peru’s Desert Penguins” Alexa Elliott, USA
- Coral Resiliency: The Marine Protected Areas of Taytay Gabriel Malvar, Philippines – WORLD PREMIERE
- Current Sea Christopher Smith, Malaysia
- The Deep Med (Planète Méditerranée ), Gil Kébaïli, France
- Descent Nays Baghai, Australia – USA PREMIERE
- Determination – The Farallon Record, Danielle Sellwood, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- dhīvaraḥ, Giridhar Nayak K, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- Discover Wonder: The Octopus Garden, John Dutton, USA
- Diving into the Underwater Galaxy, Fan Ping, China
- Echoes In The Arctic Paul Nicklen, Tahria Sheather, Andy Maser, USA
- Entangled David Abel, USA
- Entangled in Costa Rica Innoceana/The Vegan Pirates, Costa Rica – WORLD PREMIERE
- Escape from Extinction Matthew R. Brady, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Faka’apa’apa Scott Sporleder, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Finding Letter Six Andrea Reid, Shannon Switzer Swanson, Mikayla Wujec, USA
- Fish & Men Darby Duffin, Adam Jones, USA
- Gáax’w Ka Haaw: Herring Eggs & Branches Tessa Ellie Schmidt, Lee House, United States – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Great While Sharks Lakan Duskin, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- The Green Wave – Tahiti Bouvet Emmanuel, France
- Guardians of Turtles Naman Govil, Mithun TM, India – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Healthy FISHing Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand – USA PREMIERE
- High As A Kite Steven Kovacs, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- Homecoming: Journey to Limuw, Nick Zachar, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- How to Raise Baby Corals, Andrew Ackerman, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- In the kelp of the fjords (Im Kelp der Fjorde), Guido Schmitz, Germany – USA PREMIERE
- Into the Deep Unknown, Lincoln Else, Bligh Gillies, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Kaitiaki (Guardians of the Sky, Sea and Land) Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand – USA PREMIERE
- Kiligivak (Mammoth) Laura Tejero, Jake Chamberlain, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- The Last Lightkeepers Rob Apse, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Lens of Time: Corals in Motion Amy Miller, USA
- Lens of Time: Secrets of Schooling, Amy Miller, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Lessons from Jeju Nicole Gormley, USA
- Life Below Water Brian Schulz , USA
- The Long Coast Ian Cheney, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Lost At Sea, Johnny Burke, United Kingdom – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Mako Shark King of the Pelagic Realm, Shawn Heinrichs, New Zealand
- Mar Olaf Crato, Portugal – USA PREMIERE
- Murder At Sea Mark Benjamin, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- Nanuq – An Arctic Journey from Past to Future Emanuele Licitra, Italy – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- No Part Too Small Stanley Lin, USA – WORLD PREMIERE
- The Ocean Calls Lauren-ann Smith, Australia
- Ocean Souls Philip Hamilton, Scott Wilson , United Kingdom – USA PREMIERE
- Ocean to the Everglades: Part 1 Isaac Mead-Long, USA – USA PREMIERE
- On the Brink (Menace sur les saumons de Colombie Britannique) Jeremy Mathieu, Canada – WEST COAST PREMIERE
- One Word Sawalmem Natasha Deganello Giraudie, Michael “Pom” Preston, USA
- Our Sea of Waste Morade Azzouz, Anca Ulea, France
- Pause: Heidi Ida Slåtto Neerbye, Norway – USA PREMIERE
- Reducing the Risk of Disasters through Nature-based Solutions – Mangroves Leo Thom, United States
- Réforme Plastics Cho Jin Yong, South Korea
- Restoring the Natural Mangrove Forest Leo Thom, United Kingdom – WORLD PREMIERE
- Sanctuaries 360 Nick Zachar, USA
- Sentinels of Silence? Whale Watching, Noise, and the Orca Mark Pedelty, USA
- Sinhala JP Lewis, United Kingdom – WORLD PREMIERE
- Stories from the Blue: Discovering Inner Earth Nick Zachar, USA
- Three Arts in Antarctica (Trzy Sztuki w Antarktyce) Bartosz Stróżyński, Poland – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Tsunami Memories Isaac Kerlow, USA – USA PREMIERE
- Unnur Chris Burkard, USA
- Voice Above Water, Dana Frankoff, USA
- Water Baby Katherine McRae, USA
- Whales in a Changing Ocean Richard Sidey, New Zealand
- Whales Without Walls (The Whale Sanctuary Project) Charles Vinick, Dr. Lori Marino, Michael Mountain, Matt Stamm, USA – BAY AREA PREMIERE
- Yáa at Wooné (Respect for All Things) Kh’asheechtlaa (Louise Brady), Lee House, USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE