For the fourth year in a row, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival (IOFF) returns to South Florida with its Traveling Program, in celebration of World Ocean Day, to screen some of the best, award-winning films of the IOFF 21st Anniversary.
On June 8th, please join Blue Scholars and ARTSail for a special night of impact speakers and films at the UM Rosenstiel School. Part 2 of the World Ocean Day Celebration, the evening kicks off at 5:00PM with the SALT Waterfront cocktail reception followed at 6:15PM by the Sheroes of the Ocean panel discussion. At 7:30PM, a curated selection of films from around the world will explore the beauty and energy of the ocean, and connect us to its remarkable inhabitants and staunch advocates, all while inspiring us to act on their behalf. Check out the selection of films to be screened in Miami below and be sure to secure your tickets today!
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2024
5:00PM - 9:00PM
UM Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key
Shark Researchers: A New Approach to Shark Conservation
Arnau Argemi Gonzalez (Spain) 3 min
How can we convert Belizean fisherman, who have long relied on shark fishing for their livelihoods, into advocates for shark conservation? This film a transformative opportunity, introducing alternative livelihoods benefitting both the sharks and the local communities.
Konstantinus’ Legacy - Awakening the Love for Nature
Daniel Bichsel (Germany) 6 min
Pause, take a deep breath, and walk along with Konstantinus as he guides you through the lavish nature of Batanta Island, Indonesia. Let his passion and love for the environment inspire you. The natural world isn’t just a story to be told. It’s our home. It’s our shared world, worth dedicating one’s life to protect. Watch as Konstantinus does just that.
The Granny Grommets
Leah Rustomjee (Australia) 9 min
As young girls they missed out on the “Surfing Generation”, but it’s never too late, and this enthusiastic pod recently grabbed their boards and took to the waves, where they found a wonderful camaraderie - and horizontal surfing that’s easier on the legs.
A Disappearing Forest
Tyler Schiffman (USA) 9 min
“Within the last decade, 96% of the kelp forests along California’s coast have disappeared. If that many trees disappeared, it would be front-page news everywhere.” Urgently narrated by Greg Downie, a commercial urchin diver who, with the disappearance of red sea urchin, has lost his livelihood. This film educates us about the interdependence of kelp forests, sea-stars, urchins, and the people who play a role in keeping the ecosystem in balance.
Kingdom of Ice: Antarctica’s Leopard Seals
Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier, Andy Mann & SeaLegacy (USA) 10 min
This bite-sized film takes a “Gary Larsen-esque” look at one of Antarctica’s most fearsome predators, leopard seals. The bane of hapless penguins, they confront divers with a fearless ferocity and razor-sharp teeth. The humans soon discover they are objects of special interest: but as pals… or prey? See how one encounter revealed our “role” in their world (prepare to be humbled).
Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief
Daniel Kreizberg (Lithuania) 15 min
This film intertwines the heart-wrenching journey of orca mother Tahlequah, carrying her deceased newborn across the Salish Sea in July 2018, with broader human tales of loss. Woven into the film’s rich orchestral tapestry are the authentic orca archival sounds, captured by underwater hydrophones. With stunning frame-by-frame animation, this poignant story explores grief, resilience, and our collective responsibility towards the planet’s future.
With the Tide
Chelsey J. Jolly (USA) 25 min
Yakutat, with 400 residents, sits at the mouth of Yakutat Bay north of Glacier Bay, Alaska. Home to the Tlingit people for centuries, the region offers fishing, hunting and wild natural beauty, but not much for teenagers––until one native resident returns from college and introduces them to the pleasures of joyful, spirit-strengthening surfing, right where they live. Whole families become involved, contributing boards, wetsuits, and a mix of Tlingit traditions.