ANIMATION
This category recognizes achievement in the use of animation to convey engaging ocean stories and marine conservation information.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Ain’t No Fish Tom Gasek/ Miki Cash USA
- Maly Cousteau (The Little Cousteau) Jakub Kouril/Bara Prikaska Czech Republic
- Papa Cloudy's Restaurant Akiko McQuerrey Japan
- Teamwork In the Tropical Atlantic Meg Rosenburg USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Nutrient Runoff Jim Toomey USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: What’s the True Value of the Ocean? Jim Toomey USA
HONORABLE MENTION
- P1 Planet Sabrina Tasser UK
- The Tides Edith Widder USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Climate Change Connection Jim Toomey USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Marine Litter Jim Toomey USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Jim Toomey USA
BEST USE of MUSIC
This category includes Music Videos and recognizes the vital role music and the soundtrack plays in creating visual media that engages its viewers. Judges will be looking for excellence in the use of music to enhance the cinematic experience.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Big Blue Town Georgienne Bradley,Stephanie Quayle, Sea Save Foundation USA
- Great White Shark Giant Screen Films USA/UK
- Journey to the South Pacific MacGillivray Freeman Films USA/Indonesia
- The Marvelous Musical Report of the Marine National Monuments Rob Sams/Laura Sams/Sisbro USA
- Yakona Kevin Huffaker USA
- Mana Kai Volna Films USA
HONORABLE MENTION
BROADCAST TV PROGRAM
This category honors the best ocean focused program which has aired or is slated to air on broadcast television. The program should advance appreciation, awareness and understanding of the ocean, marine life and/or humanity's interconnectivity to the seas.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- The Charles W. Morgan Bailey Pryor/Telemark Films USA
- NATURE: Saving Otter 501 Mark Shelley/Fred Kaufman/WNET USA
- Natural World: Killer Whales: Beneath the Surface Bill Markham/BBC UK
- Saving the Ocean: Destination Baja D. Huntley/J. Angier/C. Safina USA
- The Search for the Ocean's Super Predator De Barros/Riggs/Lynch Australia
- Shark Girl Kaufmann Productions Australia
HONORABLE MENTION
- Saving the Ocean: Cod Comeback? D. Huntley/J. Angier/C. Safina USA
- Speed Kills Black Lagoon Richard Slater-Jones/Earth Touch/Smithsonian Networks South Africa
- The Water Brothers: Farmed and Dangerous? Tyler Mifflin/Matt Mifflin Canada
- The Water Brothers: Plastic Ocean Tyler Mifflin/Matt Mifflin Canada
- Why Sharks Attack Adam Gieger/Charles Schuerhoff/WGBH Australia
- Wild Hawaii: Secrects of the Deep Kevin Bachar/Pangolin Pictures USA
CHILDRENS
This category recognizes the best films or programs that present information about our ocean to young audiences in an engaging, entertaining way and age appropriate way.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Ain’t No Fish Tom Gasek / Miki Cash USA
- Journey to the South Pacific MacGillivray Freeman Films USA/Indonesia
- The Marvelous Musical Report of the Marine National Monuments Rob Sams/Laura Sams/Sisbro USA
- Papa Cloudy's Restaurant Akiko McQuerrey Japan
- Plastic Ocean Pollution: The New Plague? Mary Efthymiou Greece
- Shadow Reef Elke Specker USA
CINEMATOGRAPHY
This category recognizes excellence in cinematography within the Ocean environment. The quality and artistry of both underwater and topside cinematography will be evaluated.
WINNER
- One Breath: A Monterey Bay Experience Bob Talbot USA
FINALISTS
- Great White Shark Giant Screen Films USA/UK
- Journey to the South Pacific MacGillivray Freeman Films USA/Indonesia
- One Breath: A Monterey Bay Experience Bob Talbot USA
- Speed Kills Black Lagoon Richard Slater-Jones/Earth Touch/Smithsonian Networks South Africa
- Yakona Kevin Huffaker USA
HONORABLE MENTION
- Baja Erick Higurea Mexico
- The Last Ocean Peter Young/Fisheye Films New Zealand
- Rigs to Reefs Bill Mills USA
- Shark Dream Andy Casagrande IV USA
- Shark Girl Kaufmann Productions Australia
- Window in the Waves: Flower Garden Bank Todd Richard USA
CONSERVATION INNOVATION and SOLUTIONS
This category recognizes the best films showcasing CONSERVATION Initiatives, effective SOLUTIONS, new INNOVATIONS or successful STRATEGIES that address issues threatening the sustainability of the ocean and the planet.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Florida Wildlife Corridor Elam Stolzfus USA
- Mapping the Blue Alison Barrat USA
- Raising Shrimp Ted Caplow USA
- Ships vs. Whales Gershon Cohen USA
- Spillbusters Larry Herbst USA
- Stewards of the Wild Sea April Bucksbaum USA
HONORABLE MENTION
- Baja's Secret Miracle Eliana Alvarez Baja California/Mexico
- Field Spotlight: Nan Houser Conservation International USA/Cook Islands
- A Different Kind of Farm Caroline Harding Tonga/USA
- Mystery of Grouper Moon George Schellenger USA/Cayman Islands
- Tetiaroa: The Brando Eco-Resort Richard Bailey USA
- Water and the City Jeremy Paul Kagan USA
- Deep Sea Water in French Polynesis Richard Baily Tahiti
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS: PEOPLE and the SEA
This category is for films that communicate the human inter-connectivity to the sea. This includes cultural, social, economic, spiritual and health connections as well as maritime history, archeology and anthropological perspectives.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Changing Seas: Sunken Stories WPBT2 USA
- Journey to the South Pacific MacGillivray Freeman Films USA/Indonesia
- The Mystery of Atlit Yam Alpha Zoulou FIlms Canada/Israel
- The Old, the Young and the Sea Nomad Earth Media Austria/Germany/France/ Portugal/Spain
- No Word For Worry Ten Thousand Images/ Hallum & Jensen AS Norway/Thailand
- Operation: Blue Pride George Schellenger USA/Bahamas
- Swains Island Jean- Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society America Samoa
- A Town Called Success Chia-wei Tung Taiwan
HONORABLE MENTION
- Blue Journey American Samoa: Stronger Together Bruckner Chase Ocean Positive USA
- The Charles W Morgan Bailey Pryor/Telemark Films USA
- The Contemplator Mattius Klum Sweden
- Conservation International Hawaii's Fish Trust Conservation International USA
- It’s Everybody’s Ocean Atsuko Quirk Japan/USA
- Legends of Magdalen Sharif Mirshak/Parafilms Canada
- Soul in the Sea Amy Taylor New Zealand
- Stories From the Sea Rebecca Hubbard Australia
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
This category recognizes outstanding work in Feature Ocean Documentary films. Qualifying films are documentaries or factual visual media produced for theatrical release or distribution in a commercial cinema.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- DamNation Yvon Chouinard/Patagonia USA
- Great White Shark Giant Screen Films USA/UK
- Journey to the South Pacific MacGillivray Freeman Films USA/Indonesia
- The Last Ocean Peter Young/Fisheye Films New Zealand
- The Other Side of the Ice Sprague Theobald USA/Canada
- Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Sunshine Films USA
- Shark Girl Kaufmann Productions Australia
- Winter, The Dolphin That Can David Yates/Clearwater Marine Aquarium USA
HONORABLE MENTION
- The Current Kurt Miller/Hans Rosenwinkel USA/Bahamas/Mexico/Tonga/US Pacific Is
- Extinction Soup Phillip Waller/Stephanie Brendl USA
- North Pond Oki Productions USA
- Proteus Night Fire Films USA/Germany
- Return of the River Jessica Plumb USA
- A Sweet Spot in Time Jonah Bryson Canada
EDUCATIONAL NON-BROADCAST
This category is for films under 40 minutes produced specifically for use in non-broadcast settings, such as in museums, zoos, parks, aquariums, or other institutional/educational venues that effectively advance awareness and appreciation of the oceans.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- California Hope Spots Kip Evans USA
- Jamaica Reef Rescue Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation USA/Jamaica
- Lightning Strikes Twice Stephani Gordon USA
- One Breath: A Monterey Bay Experience Bob Talbot USA
- Our Deepest Waters Stephani Gordon US/Pacific Islands
- Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Sunshine Films USA
HONORABLE MENTION
- Baja's Secret Miracle Eliana Alvarez Baja California/Mexico
- Descent Into the Depths Aquarium of the Pacific USA
- "Honu Here" Turtles of French Polynesia Cecile Gaspar French Polynesia
- Ocean Communications Mirella von Lindenfels/Martin Atkin UK
- Sandfishes of Indonesia Mote Marine Laboratory USA
- Sargasso Sea David Shaw USA
- South Coast Marine Protected Areas Aquarium of the Pacific USA
EMERGING FILMMAKER
This category is for films produced by non-student emerging filmmakers. Recent graduates, new independents and those with no more than one production that has been distributed are invited to submit to this category.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Exuma Colin Ruggiero Bahamas/USA
- Hydrothermal Vents: What Does the Future Hold? Joe Fereday UK
- One Simple Question Teresa & Ben Carey/Derek Rowe USA
- Sharks of Mexico Gerardo Del Villar Mexico
- A Sweet Spot in Time Jonah Bryson Canada
- Window in the Waves: Flower Garden Bank Todd Richard USA
HONORABLE MENTION
- 3D Coral Reef Aquarium Dean Homayouni USA
- Ocean Consciousness Cedric Fayolle Mauritius
- Sargasso Sea David Shaw USA
- Slug Divers: Farmers of the Sea Chris Sammut Australia
- A Boat for Bangledesh Lisa Genasci USA
EXPLORATION and ADVENTURE
This category recognizes the best films featuring ocean exploration, adventurous exploits, research expeditions or other activities relating to ocean discovery and understanding.
WINNER
- Antarctica 3D: On The Edge Jon Bowermaster Antarctica
FINALISTS
- Antarctica 3D: On The Edge Jon Bowermaster Antarctica
- Bouvetoya: The Last Place on Earth Jason Rodi/Robbie Hart Canada
- Descent Into the Depths Aquarium of the Pacific USA
- Naked Ambition Oliver Gray/Joe Wihl UK/Antigua/Barbuda/Spain/UAE
- Sharks of the Coral Canyon Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation USA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Back From the Abyss Daniel Strobl Austria
- The Blinding Sea George Tombs Norway/Mexico/USA/Canada
- Defeating Oceans Seven Daniel Strobl Austria
- One Simple Question Teresa & Ben Carey/Derek Rowe USA
- Sharks of Mexico Gerardo Del Villar Mexico
- When Shark Meets Croc NHU Africa Africa
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
This category recognizes excellence in ocean related films produced in a non-English language. However, all films must have English subtitles for judging and Festival screenings.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Baja's Secret Miracle Eliana Alvarez Baja California/Mexico
- The Big Reef Alex Finessi Italy/Egypt/Maldives
- Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience Alexandra Tabar
- Sharks of Mexico Gerardo Del Villar Mexico
- The Small Nocturnal Presences Alex Finessi Italy/Egypt
- The Root Sailing Raft Ratuti Communication & Design Brazil
MARINE LIFE
This category recognizes the most outstanding films whose main story relates to Marine Life. Some examples include: interesting behavior, the animal's habitat, its role within the ocean ecosystem, the relationships between species or how they are impacted by humans.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Being Different If You’re a Weddell Seal in Antarctic Mary Lynn Price Antarctica
- Great White Shark Giant Screen Films USA/UK
- Living Science: Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef Juggernaut Film Prod.
- Mystery of Grouper Moon George Schellenger USA/Cayman Islands
- Speed Kills Black Lagoon Richard Slater-Jones/Earth Touch/Smithsonian Networks South Africa
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Changing Seas: Coastal Carnivores Alexa Elliott/Mike Heithaus/Patrick Greene USA
- QUEST: Restoring Oyster Reefs David Huppert/KQED/UNC-TV USA
- Sharks of the Coral Canyon Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation USA
- Tiger Shark Express Guy Harvey Enterprises USA/Bermuda/Bahamas
- Understanding Dolphins: What You Should Know John Anderson/Kathleen Dudzinski
- Whale Sharks of the Yucatan Guy Harvey Enterprises USA/Mexico
- Winter, The Dolphin That Can Clearwater Marine Aquarium USA
MARINE SCIENCES
This category recognizes the best films that effectively engage the audience while increasing the understanding of marine and oceanographic sciences as they relate to sustainability and ocean literacy.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Acid Ocean Sally Ingleton Australia
- Changing Seas: Tracking Tigers Alexa Elliott/WPBT2 Bahamas
- Changing Seas: Reefs of Rangiroa Alexa Elliott/Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
- Le Sable (Sand Wars) G. Rappeneau FR/CA/USA/UAE/UK/India/Indonesia/Maldives
- Mapping the Blue Alison Barrat USA
- QUEST: Exploring Corals of the Deep Sheraz Sadiq/KQED USA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Changing Seas: Creatures of the Deep Alexa Elliott/WPBT2 USA
- Changing Seas: Grouper Moon Alexa Elliott/WPBT2 Cayman Islands/USA
- Great White: Code Red Earth Touch South Africa
- Living Science: Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef Juggernaut Film Prod.
- Lophelia II: Reefs Rigs, and Wreck Expedition NOAA USA
- Understanding Dolphins: What You Should Know John Anderson/Kathleen Dudzinski
OCEAN ISSUES
This category recognizes the best films whose focus is on issues threatening our ocean's health, sustainability, biodiversity and/or ability to provide life support for our planet.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Angel Azul Marcelina Cravat/E.Johnson/K.Delaney USA
- Deadly Depths E.Nadler/N.Koutsikas/R.Coen/Z.Emeraude France
- Disaster at Nightingale David Guggenheim USA/Argentina/Falklands/S.Africa/ UK/ S.Georgia
- Jamaica Reef Rescue Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation USA/Jamaica
- The Last Ocean Peter Young/Fisheye Films New Zealand
- Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Sunshine Films USA
- Shark Girl Kaufmann Productions Australia
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Shipbreakers RTV Productions USA
- BridgeWalkers Kara Rhodes/Jim Whitney Greenland/Peru/Canada/USA
- Extinction Soup Phillip Waller/Stephanie Brendl USA
- Saving Our Tuna Patrick Fries/Cherie Hart Solomon Is/New Caledonia/Pacific Is.
- Revolution Rob Stewart/Diatribe Pictures Canada
- The Water Brothers: Plastic Ocean Tyler Mifflin/Matt Mifflin Canada
- Inside the World of Garbage Phillipe Carillo USA
- Salmon Confidential Twyla Roscovich Canada
PRESENTER LEAD PROGRAM
This category is awarded to the best ocean focused program that utilizes a Host /Presenter to make the production engaging, entertaining and informative.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Sunshine Films USA
- The Penguin Rescue Alice Clarke/NHU Africa South Africa
- Revolution Rob Stewart/Diatribe Pictures Canada
- The Water Brothers: Plastic Ocean Tyler Mifflin/Matt Mifflin Canada
- When Shark Meets Croc Garth Lucas/NHU Africa South Africa
SHORTS
The Short Film category recognizes outstanding storytelling and production values in films on any relevant topic with a run time between 3 to 20 minutes.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Ain’t No Fish Tom Gasek / Miki Cash USA
- Gyre: Creating Art From a Plastic Ocean JJ Kelley USA
- The Marvelous Musical Report of the Marine National Monuments Rob Sams/Laura Sams/Sisbro USA
- Natural Numbers: Sardines Jamie Rojo/Octavio Abutro Mexico
- QUEST: Exploring Corals of the Deep Sheraz Sadiq/KQED USA
- Shark Dream Andy Brandy Casagrande IV USA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- The Coral Reef Jose Maria Esteban-Infantes Spain/Indonesia/Palau/Portugal
- A Day in the Life of Lolita the Performing Orca Underdog Entertainment New Zealand
- Saving Valentina Great Whale Conservancy USA/Mexico
- The Tides Edith Widder USA
- 57 Degrees North London Film School UK
- The Kelp Lady Jeanne Myers USA
- Like a Circle In Water Andrew Chan Gladstone USA
- Fishing of a Blue Icon Rebecca Sell USA
This category recognizes the best ocean related videos under 3 minutes in length. This includes amateur videos, online one-off or series, multi media projects, commercials, public service announcements, etc. and recognizes excellence in story telling, impact and creativity.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- The Beauty of Mangrove Forests Dennis Zaidi Bahamas/Canada
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Nutrient Runoff Jim Toomey USA
- Big Blue Town Georgienne Bradley/Stephanie Quayle/Sea Save Foundation USA
- Impress John Baker/Peter Knights/Kevin Donovan USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Climate Change Connection Jim Toomey USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Jim Toomey USA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Barbuda Blue Halo Waitt Institute Antigua & Barbuda/USA
- Have You Met a Manatee? Samantha Whitcraft USA
- Moving the St. Petersburg Aquarium Zachary Ostroff USA
- Orca Dreams Andy Brandy Casagrande IV USA
- 2 Min on the Oceans: Marine Litter Jim Toomey USA
- Dolphin Dog Earth Touch South Africa
- Dreams of Evolution Nick Bolton USA
This category is dedicated to recognizing student filmmakers enrolled in a verifiable academic program. No age restrictions. Proof of student status should be sent in with submission materials.
WINNER
FINALISTS
- Cheek By Jowl Mike Potter/Carolyne Nead USA
- Eternal Darkness Mike Potter/Christian Vermazen USA
- Learning to Float Brendan Calder USA
- Maly Cousteau (The Little Cousteau) Jakub Kouril/Bara Prikaska Czech Republic
- On The Back of Whales Mio Hoshino NZ
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- The Drowning Country Caroline Fitzgerald New Zealand
- Viva Tortuga: Meshing Conservation & Culture in Magdalena Bay Maria Luskay
- Whale Chasers Tess Brosnan New Zealand
This category recognizes films that showcase ocean sports such as surfing, paddle boarding, rowing, sailing, free diving, swimming or other aquatic based activities while showing a connection between the sport and ocean stewardship.
WINNER
FINALIST
- Beyond the Surface Crystal Thornburg-Homcy India/USA
- One Ocean: No Limits Sarah McCann Ireland/Barbados/Morocco/UK
- STAND Anthony Bonello/Nicholas Teichrob Canada
- Sine Qua Non: The Psychology of Big Wave Surfing with Greg Long Richard Yelland/Zach Weisburg USA
- The Transparentsea Voyage Justin Krumb USA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
SPECIAL JURY RECOGNTION for 3D
WINNER
FINALIST
- Ice Bear 3D Arctic Bear Productions Canada
- Great White Shark Giant Screen Films USA/UK
- Journey to the South Pacific MacGillivray Freeman Films USA/Indonesia
- 3D Coral Reef Aquarium Dean Homayouni USA
- Antarctica 3D: On The Edge Jon Bowermaster Antarctica
BLUE OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL & CONSERVATION EVENT
