Ocean Film Festival World Tour

Climb aboard for a night of ocean adventure! The Ocean Film Festival World Tour features a new collection of the world’s most incredible ocean films!

Brought to you by the team behind the Banff Mountain Film Festival UK & Ireland tour, this selection of short films combines breath-taking marine life and wild seafaring voyages in a cinematic celebration of our oceans.

Venturing to rarely explored depths of the planet, meet the surfers, paddlers, divers and scientists who have dedicated their lives to answering the call of the ocean. Plunge into the wonders of the big blue – without getting your feet wet!

Picture by @eviewilderness.

FILM PROGRAMME:

Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests

20 minutes

When Italian photographer Ismaele moves to Northern Norway, he dreams of exploring the icy Arctic waters and filming iconic wolffish among lush kelp forests. But beneath the surface, he finds a stark reality: an ocean floor stripped bare, where the once-thriving sea forests have nearly vanished. As he meets people fighting to restore the underwater world, he finds hope – and a powerful call for collective action.

The Raftsmen

48 minutes

In 1973, 12 adventurous misfits from seven countries embarked on a seemingly impossible mission – to cross the Pacific Ocean on three handmade wooden rafts. Navigating by the sun and stars, and battling storms, sharks and frayed nerves, the largely inexperienced crew headed out into the blue. Fifty years later, with previously unseen footage, the survivors of one of maritime history’s most astonishing adventures finally tell their story.

The Kelp Collector

5 minutes

After a career in science, Sandy Webb has found a new passion in retirement: collecting and cataloguing the diverse algae species that inhabit the waters near her Melbourne home. With the precision of a scientist and the eye of an artist, she transforms her discoveries into exquisite pressed-seaweed specimens. The Kelp Collector reveals how Sandy's dedication to documenting local marine life connects her to the coastal environment she calls home.

Granny Grommets

9 minutes

There’s no age limit on enjoying the ocean, and this heartwarming short film proves just that! In surf lingo a ‘grommet’ is a young surfing newbie, but the Granny Grommets – some of whom are in their 80s – are reclaiming the word. Ignoring the looming threat of sharks and concerns of their worried offspring, this joyful group take to the waves every week with their bodyboards.

Tides of Life

16 minutes

Driven by a lifelong love of wildlife, charismatic entrepreneur Richard Tesore opens Uruguay’s first rescue and rehabilitation centre for marine mammals. Caring for injured penguins, sea lions, otters and more, this short film explores Richard’s unwavering mission to protect the fragile marine life along Uruguay’s coast, and the legacy he’s building on the shores of this small South American country and beyond.

Ride of a Lifetime

As a child, a big, perfectly formed wave was Alo Slebir’s obsession. Influenced by the famous big waves at Mavericks just up the California coast, he trained in all conditions for those magical days when he's the waverider. Going on to become a professional big wave surfer, this film joins Alo as he investigates the science, training and raw danger of tackling these mighty waves.

For Accessibility, please click here.

The venue is seating only. All seats are unreserved and are taken on a first come first serve basis. Please arrive early before event door times if you have preferred seats. Due to the nature of our venue, please be prepared to queue for entry.

The venue is fully accessible, with use of ramps and the upstairs bar is accessible with use of a platform lift. Please email [email protected] with your accessibility requirements as soon as you purchase your ticket as requests are dealt with on a first come, first serve basis.

The bar is located on the first floor of the venue and will be open from the stated door time and remain open after the show.

Alcohol consumption will be limited to the bar area only, it is not permitted to take alcohol to the main chapel space. An array of soft drinks and snacks will also be available and are permitted in the main space - please note the Union Chapel bar and kiosk accept card payment only. Strictly no food or drink may be brought from outside into the venue. Water bottles must be emptied before entering the venue, with refilling stations available inside.