The Ocean Film Festival World Tour Returns to the UK
This coming fall season, UK audiences will be able to immerse themselves in the wonders of the ocean without getting their feet wet! After a highly successful first tour in 2014, the Ocean Festival World Tour is returning to the UK. The festival, which originates in Australia, will feature a brand new selection of the world’s most captivating ocean-themed short films and will be shown in 24 towns and cities across the UK.
"We thoroughly enjoyed the Ocean Film Festival Australia earlier this year so we're really excited to have another opportunity to be a conservation partner of this awe-inspiring film festival," says Domino Albert, Project AWARE Communications Manager. "The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is a unique event not to be missed. It inspires people to further explore, respect, enjoy and protect our ocean."
Designed to mesmerise and enthral, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour showcases more than two hours of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface. The films document the beauty and power of the ocean and celebrate the divers, surfers, swimmers and oceanographers who live for the sea’s salt spray, chase the crests of waves, and marvel at the mysteries of the big blue.
Heart-stopping shots of big wave surfing and adrenalin-inducing scenes of divers swimming with white sharks will leave audiences on the edges of their seats. The films also encourage viewers to dive head first into ocean culture as the festival is filled with touching interviews and insightful narrations from the characters whose lives are inspired by the ocean.
Together with the Ocean Film Festival, Project AWARE shares a positive vision for the future of our ocean. Each of the festival’s films conveys a deep respect and appreciation for the world’s oceans and the creatures that call them home. A selection of 2015 highlights include:
Devocean
South African-born Bruno spent the majority of his life in or on the water. However, in 1998 a tragic event left him a paraplegic. In an instant, he plunged from carefree surf guide, sailor, scuba diver and traveller to the depths of despair.
A chance wave and the restorative powers of the ocean showed Bruno a new path in life, one that would be rich, full, diverse and salty. Devocean is an inspirational story of life’s lessons as taught by the sea.
Oceanminded
Oceanminded follows champion freediver Hanli Prinsloo along the coast of South Africa and Mozambique. Her underwater journey takes her into the realm of the ocean’s most feared predator – the shark. In this film, the misunderstood creatures are portrayed in a very different light – one of beauty and respect. It´s an adventure full of risks and passions - on one breath!
The 2015 UK Ocean Film Festival World Tour will donate 25p from every ticket sold to Project AWARE and Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with both charities and hope the Tour will raise awareness of the essential work undertaken by these organizations, while at the same time, raising valuable funds to continue their work.” Commented Nell Teasdale, Director Ocean Film Festival UK Tour.
