The 23rd Annual International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org), dedicated to showcasing films that inspire appreciation and care for the ocean, announces this year’s award winners in the categories: Coastal Culture, Conservation, Director, Environment, Golden Gate (bestowed to San Francisco Bay Area filmmaker), Marine Sciences, Ocean Sports, Science and Exploration, Short Entries included documentary films in short, animation and full-length categories. These 10, plus a juried selection of additional outstanding films, will be presented April 10 - 12 at the Cowell Theatre, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in San Francisco. An advance screening showcasing two films will take place on Thursday, April 2, at the Smith San Rafael Film Center in San Rafael--home of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Festival Passes, plus Individual, Student, Youth and Senior Sunday tickets available: https://2026ioff.eventive.org/welcome

2026 Category Winners

Coastal and Island Culture Award: Coral in FocusQuentin van den Bossche, Fiji, South Korea, USA

Conservation Award: Juan Fernandez UNOC Announcement‍ ‍Andy Mann, UK

Director Award: The Right Whale Nick Dean and Cheryl Holmen Dean, USA

Environment Award: Superfish:Salmon Rick Rosenthal, USA

Golden Gate Award: Monterey Bay White Sharks Kip Evans and Dr. Barbara Block, USA

Marine Wildlife Award: Interview with a Shark Pierre-Etienne Larrous, France

Ocean Sports Award: Antarctica: Domain One Joaquin Azulay and Julian Azulay, Argentina, Hong Kong, Italy

Science and Exploration Award: A Life Illuminated Tasha Van Zandt, USA

Shorts Award: Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests Ismaele Tortella, Norway

Jury Award: Love Birds Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris, USA

Jury Award: Shells: Shaped by Nature Henk Ekermans and Barend van der Watt, South Africa