International Ocean Film Foundation
The mission of the International Ocean Film Foundation is to be the premier global platform for ocean literacy and ocean education through independent film.
23rd Annual Int’l Ocean Film Festival
First Look
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Smith Rafael Film Center, San Rafael, CA
Opening Night and 3-Day Film Festival
April 10-12, 2026
Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture,
San Francisco, CA
Filmmaker Testimonials
"It was a great honour for SOULs to be selected and screened at IOFF 2025. The venue at fort mason was incredible and provided an amazing space for the film to be presented alongside other amazing ocean stories. The film festival was a great opportunities to meet filmmakers alike and amplifying ocean stories to a global audience."
Ian Mun
Souls
Singapore (2025)
"A beautifully organised festival and a great selection of ocean films. Thank you so much for selecting my film 'Peixinho' for the Jury Award. Meeting so many other passionate filmmakers and ocean lovers at the festival was incredible. The audiences were great, and the city was so hospitable. I hope to be back again!"
Kaushiik Subramaniam
Peixinho (Little Fish)
Portugal (2025)
"Thank you so much to the whole staff of this amazing festival: people who loves Oceans and really trust in the power of impactful storytelling in boostering positive change in our society. I hope I'll be able to attend the IOFF again!"
Francesco de Augustinis
Until the End of the World
Italy (2024)
IOFF Sponsors
IOFF Education Program
The 20th Anniversary edition of the Free Ocean Education Film Program for middle school and high school students will be hosted this year on Thursday April 9th at the Roxie Theater and Friday April 10th at the BATS Theater in Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in San Francisco.
The two hour event features a curated program of official selections from the main film festival designed to entertain, engage and inspire middle school and high school students from across the Bay Area. The core value of the mission of the International Ocean Film Foundation is education and ocean literacy, and to be the premier platform for ocean education and literacy through independent film.
Students have the opportunity to engage with filmmakers, scientists, marine biology experts and more. Many students gain insights into the possibility of becoming a filmmaker or studying marine sciences and becoming a marine scientist as a career option.