Festival
23rd Annual International Ocean Film Festival
The Films
For twenty three years, the International Ocean Film Festival has brought the wonder, urgency, and power of the ocean to the big screen. What began in 2004 as a bold vision has grown into a global platform for ocean literacy, education, and independent film that reaches audiences of all ages.
At the heart of the festival is our signature three day celebration of ocean storytelling, where breathtaking cinematography meets courageous journalism, scientific discovery, and deeply human stories from around the world. Each film is a window into the blue heart of our planet, revealing both its extraordinary beauty and the critical challenges it faces.
We believe stories change people, and people change the world. Through the power of visual storytelling, audiences are moved beyond awareness toward action. Students discover new possibilities. Families connect with the natural world. Leaders and advocates find renewed purpose. Every screening is an invitation to care more deeply and act more boldly.
As a year round ocean conservation organization, IOFF continues the conversation far beyond the festival stage. We present ocean inspired films throughout the year, followed by engaging conversations with filmmakers, scientists, and leading experts who are shaping the future of our seas. These moments spark dialogue, deepen understanding, and build a community committed to solutions.
The 23rd Annual International Ocean Film Festival begins with First Look on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
Opening Night and the full three-day film festival take place April 10–12, 2026, at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in San Francisco.
The full program will be available on February 25, 2026.
Tickets go on sale March 1, 2026.
We invite you to mark your calendar and be part of this powerful celebration of ocean storytelling.
Join us in celebrating twenty three years of impact, inspiration, and ocean advocacy. Together, through film and shared experience, we can protect what sustains us all and ensure a thriving ocean for generations to come.
Smith Rafael Film Center
First Look Thursday, April 2, 2026
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER
1118 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
FIRST LOOK PROGRAM at 4:00 PM
Wild Hope: Puffling Patrol, (USA)
Penguins of the Point, Derek Robitaille, (Canada)
13 Hours to Survive Ep 1: Trapped in Low Tide, Alexis Barbier-Bouvet and Manuel Lefèvre, (USA)
FIRST LOOK PROGRAM at 7:00 PM
A Life Illuminated, Tasha Van Zandt, (USA)
Cowell Theater Events
April 10-12, 2026
Fort Mason Center for the Arts
2 Marina Blvd Suite 260, San Francisco, CA 94123
FRIDAY, APRIL 10TH
PROGRAM 1 at 4:00 PM
The Dolphins, Gaby Scott, (USA)
Coral in Focus, Quentin van den Bossche, (Fiji, South Korea, USA)
Lands End, Steve Peletz, (USA)
Love Birds, Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris, (USA)
PROGRAM 2 at 7:00 PM
Presented by Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Race to 30x30 with Sylvia Earle, Andy Mann, (UK)
All Eyes on Antarctica, Kathryn Francis and Campbell Brewer, (UK)
Mission Sea Otter: Saving California's Kelp Forests, Claudia Schmitt and Hendrik Schmitt, (Germany)
OPENING NIGHT PARTY - 9:00 - 11:00 PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH
PROGRAM 3 at 10:00 am
The Last Fin, Lexi Addison, (USA)
Chasing Fins, Tomas Koeck, (USA)
Monterey Bay White Sharks, Kip Foster Evans and Dr. Barbara Block, (USA)
Interview with a Shark, Pierre-Etienne Larrous, (France)
PROGRAM 4 at 1:00 pm
Presented by SC Johsnon
The Signals of Color, Daisuke Abe, (Japan)
The Human Side of Plastic: Abby Barrows, Andrew Lynch, Ben Ayers and Rush Sturges, (USA)
Changemakers, Casey Beck, (Greece)
Changing Seas: Whales in a Plastic Ocean, Alexa Elliott, (USA)
PROGRAM 5 at 4:00 pm
Juan Fernandez UNOC Announcement, Andy Mann, (UK, USA)
Life on the Edges - Stories from the Frontlines of Climate Resilience, Andi R Cross and Adam Moore, (Australia, USA)
Shells: Shaped by Nature, Henk Ekermans and Barend van der Watt, (South Africa)
PROGRAM 6 at 7:00 pm
Paloma, Angel of the Sea, Mark Micheli, (USA)
Nothing but Blue, Sebastian Bechtel, (Germany)
Antarctica: Domain One, Joaquin Azulay and Julian Azulay, (Argentina, Hong Kong, Italy)
SURF PARTY - 9:00 - 11:00 PM
SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH
PROGRAM 7 at 10:00 am
Replanting a Garden, Anthony W Wallace, (Canada)
Born from the Reef, Owen Bornhorst, (USA)
Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests, Ismaele Tortella, (Norway)
Depth: A Game Beyond the Rules, Pavel Karchevskii, (Russian Federation) U.S. Premiere
PROGRAM 8 at 1:00 pm
The Bottom Line, Ben Mallaby, (UK)
From the Mountains to the Sea, Adlai Salcedo, (Canada, Colombia)
Superfish: Salmon, Rick Rosenthal, (USA) World Premiere
PROGRAM 9 at 4:00 pm
Sei, The Unknown Whale, Juan María Raggio and Mariano Fernandez, (Argentina)
The Right Whale, Nick Dean and Cheryl Holmen Dean, (USA)
BATS Bayfront Theatre Events
April 11-12, 2026
SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH
12 PM Panel Discussion #1
Mission Sea Otter – Saving California's Kelp Forests
3:30 PM Panel Discussion #2
Taking Action in Coastal Communities
Presented by SC Johnson
SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH
12 PM Panel Discussion #3
Keep it Wild: from Ocean to River, Protecting Salmon in a Farmed Age
Presented by CalTrout
3:30 PM Panel Discussion #4
En Clave, a celebration of Latine ocean leadership
Presented by Azul
2026 Films in Alphabetical Order
13 Hours to Survive Ep 1: Trapped in Low Tide, Alexis Barbier-Bouvet and Manuel Lefèvre, (USA)
A Life Illuminated, Tasha Van Zandt, (USA)
All Eyes on Antarctica, Kathryn Francis and Campbell Brewer, (UK)
Antarctica: Domain One, Joaquin Azulay and Julian Azulay, (Argentina, Hong Kong, Italy)
Born from the Reef, Owen Bornhorst, (USA)
The Bottom Line, Ben Mallaby, (UK)
Changing Seas: Whales in a Plastic Ocean, Alexa Elliott, (USA)
Changemakers, Casey Beck, (Greece)
Chasing Fins, Tomas Koeck, (USA)
Coral in Focus, Quentin van den Bossche, (Fiji, South Korea, USA)
Depth: A Game Beyond the Rules, Pavel Karchevskii, (Russian Federation) U.S. Premiere
The Dolphins, Gaby Scott, (USA)
From the Mountains to the Sea, Adlai Salcedo, (Canada, Colombia)
The Human Side of Plastic: Abby Barrows, Andrew Lynch, Ben Ayers and Rush Sturges, (USA)
Interview with a Shark, Pierre-Etienne Larrous, (France)
Juan Fernandez UNOC Announcement, Andy Mann, (UK, USA)
Lands End, Steve Peletz, (USA)
The Last Fin, Lexi Addison, (USA)
Life on the Edges - Stories from the Frontlines of Climate Resilience, Andi R Cross and Adam Moore, (Australia, USA)
Love Birds, Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris, (USA)
Mission Sea Otter: Saving California's Kelp Forests, Claudia Schmitt and Hendrik Schmitt, (Germany)
Monterey Bay White Sharks, Kip Foster Evans and Dr. Barbara Block, (USA)
Nothing but Blue, Sebastian Bechtel, (Germany)
Paloma, Angel of the Sea, Mark Micheli, (USA)
Penguins of the Point, Derek Robitaille, (Canada)
The Race to 30x30 with Sylvia Earle, Andy Mann, (UK)
Replanting a Garden, Anthony W Wallace, (Canada)
The Right Whale, Nick Dean and Cheryl Holmen Dean, (USA)
Sei, The Unknown Whale, Juan María Raggio and Mariano Fernandez, (Argentina)
Shells: Shaped by Nature, Henk Ekermans and Barend van der Watt, (South Africa)
The Signals of Color, Daisuke Abe, (Japan)
Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests, Ismaele Tortella, (Norway)
Superfish: Salmon, Rick Rosenthal, (USA) World Premiere
Wild Hope: Puffling Patrol, (USA)
Get Involved
Since 2004, the International Ocean Film Foundation (IOFF) has been recognized around the world as the premier ocean-themed film festival for its compelling, inspiring, and thought-provoking independent films.
As a nonprofit arts organization, IOFF relies on the loyalty, passion, and financial contributions of our donors to present three days of special events and the best independent ocean-inspired films from around the world. We couldn’t make it happen without your support!
