The Ocean Film Festival World Tour brought stories of ocean adventure, marine wildlife and conservation to London this October.
Now in its 13th year, the festival features a collection of short films exploring the relationship between people and the ocean, from extreme sports and long-distance expeditions to marine conservation.
Originally established in Australia, the festival has grown into an international tour, bringing ocean-focused films to audiences around the world including Bath, Exeter and London’s Union Chapel.
Tour manager, Rosie Fuller, who helped bring the programme to the UK said: “When we heard about it, we just had to bring the tour to the UK.
“You’re never really that far away from the ocean here, and something about the sea stays with us I think.”
Among the films featured was The Raftsmen, which revisits a 1973 expedition in which 12 adventurers from seven countries attempted to cross the Pacific Ocean on three handmade wooden rafts.
Another film, Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests, follows an Italian photographer documenting the decline of underwater kelp forests in northern Norway and his efforts to restore them.
The programme also featured Granny Grommets, about older surfers, and Tides of Life, which follows a wildlife conservationist caring for injured marine mammals in Uruguay.
When talking about the selection process, Fuller said: “There are lots of entries, so it’s tough!
“We mostly look for storytelling.
“It is easy nowadays to get spectacular footage of the ocean, but it’s the stories told in the films that make them special.”
Alongside stories of adventure and exploration, the films examine environmental challenges facing the oceans and their inhabitants as well as the people working to protect marine life.
The festival aims to strike a balance between entertainment and education, designed to engage audiences while also giving them a greater understanding of the ocean and the challenges it faces.
Fuller added: “All of the environmental films tell stories of people who are making a difference in their local area.
“No one person can save the planet, but if we all do small things we can make positive change.
“There’s nothing like being connected to the ocean – and if people are connected to the ocean, the more they will want to protect it.”
By bringing together stories of adventure, wildlife and conservation, the festival offers audiences a look at the many ways people connect with the ocean, also highlighting the importance of understanding the marine environment and the challenges it faces.
Next year’s festival World Tour will begin in Australia in February 2027 and entries are now being accepted.
For details on the festival and how to enter visit: oceanfilmfestivalworldtour.com
Featured Image Credit: Ocean Film Festival
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