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:
April 2, 2026 - Smith Rafael Film Center, San Rafael, CA
April 10-12, 2026 Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, San Francisco, CA
Reel to Real:
Ocean Action Starts Here
IOFF’s Year-End Online Film Program & Fundraiser
November 19 - December 31, 2025
The International Ocean Film Foundation (IOFF) is proud to launch Reel to Real: Ocean Action Starts Here, a new year-end online film program and a dynamic virtual experience created to amplify ocean storytelling and raise vital support for our mission.
As we celebrate our 23rd year, we’re calling on our community to help us reach our $23,000 fundraising goal, ensuring that our work continues to educate, inspire, and drive tangible ocean action worldwide.
Your support fuels our Online and In-Person Education Programs and sustains the International Ocean Film Festival — a global platform for powerful stories, groundbreaking science, and real-world solutions. As a filmmaker whose voice helps shape the future, your participation is essential. Together, we can spark awareness, ignite action, and inspire meaningful global change.
Now Accepting Film Submissions
Regular Deadline is December 31
The International Ocean Film Foundation hosts its annual flagship three day event, now recognized as the premier ocean-centric film festival of its kind in the world.
Now heading into its 23rd year, IOFF has produced an acclaimed festival of independent ocean-related films from all over the world. Themes range from ocean adventure, exploration, science, marine life, ocean sports and coastal cultures. The films are curated to entertain audiences, but more importantly, to educate and encourage active participation in ocean-specific environmental efforts and better ocean stewardship.
A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned IOFF Traveling Program.
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.