Europe’s Premier Ocean Film Festival Concludes in Lanzarote
The International Ocean Film Tour, Europe’s most important ocean film festival, is closing its international tour this weekend on the volcanic island of Lanzarote. For four days, the island will host film screenings, talks, panel discussions, and special programming for school children. Tickets for the only two scheduled screenings at the iconic Jameos del Agua are already sold out, and a waiting list has been opened due to overwhelming demand.
Canarian Documentary Takes Center Stage
The Canary Islands are one of the main features of this edition of the International Ocean Film Tour, which is headlined by the Canarian short film ‘Nika, the Tropical Pilot Whale’ by José Hernández and Felipe Ravina. This celebrated film has already toured twenty cities across Spain and is set to reach over 220 destinations throughout Europe. Alongside this featured projection, Jameos del Agua will also screen a selection of short films chosen from hundreds of international submissions, including ‘Trilogy New Wave’, ‘Row of Life’, ‘Kelp!’, and ‘7 Beats per Minute’.
A Platform for Ocean Conservation
Following the official presentation of the International Ocean Film Tour on Thursday, November 6th, the festival will transform into a stage and megaphone for ocean protection with the panel discussion ‘The Ocean: A Sea of Possibilities’. This important conversation will feature distinguished participants: Antonio García Allut, Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of A Coruña and one of the driving forces behind the Os Miñarzos Marine Reserve in Galicia; José Juan Castro Hernández, researcher and professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Doctor in Marine Sciences and member of the ECOAQUA institute; Hipolito J. Cuadrado Perez, Senior Patron of the La Tiñosa Fishermen’s Guild in Lanzarote; and Felipe Ravina, a Marine Science graduate, documentary filmmaker, and scientific communicator who has spent years communicating, educating, and bringing the value of marine ecosystems to the general public.
Educational Screenings and Sold-Out Shows
The film program at Jameos del Agua begins on Friday morning with an educational screening tailored for students from various schools on the island. This special showing will be accompanied by a talk from the Canarian protagonist and co-director of ‘Nika, the Tropical Pilot Whale’, Felipe Ravina. The official premiere of this volume in Lanzarote, in its original version with Spanish subtitles, is stronger than ever. The double screening on Friday, November 6th and Saturday, November 7th was scheduled to meet the high demand on the island, where tickets sell out in record time every year.
With screenings at 7:00 PM on both Friday and Saturday, this double feature will host several special guests. Notable attendees include Dr. Antonio García Allut; Caylon La Mantia, director of the short film ‘Kelp!’; José Hernández, CEO of the Canarian production company MINSK and director of the documentary ‘Nika, the Tropical Pilot Whale’; Felipe Ravina, protagonist and co-director; and Sergio Obrador, the winner of the festival’s national raffle for a trip to Lanzarote to enjoy this incredible experience.
Community Action: Coastal and Seabed Clean-Ups
In a hands-on effort to protect the local marine environment, a seabed clean-up of the Arrecife Commercial Dock will take place on Sunday, November 9th at 10:00 AM, in collaboration with the Pastinaca Diving Club. Participation is free with prior online registration. Simultaneously, and with the collaboration of Lanzarote Limpia Lanzarote, a coastal clean-up has been organized at Caleta del Mojón Blanco, an initiative that also involves the Haría Town Council.
Exclusive Prizes for Attendees
Among the attendees of the Lanzarote events, the International Ocean Film Tour will raffle several prizes thanks to its sponsors and partners, including the destination Lanzarote. Lucky participants can win experiences for two at the CACT Lanzarote’s Jardín del Cactus and Casa-Museo del Campesino, as well as several introductory diving baptisms with the Club de Actividades Subacuáticas Pastinaca to discover the secrets hidden beneath the sea around this volcanic island.
A Festival Built on Sustainable Development
This pioneering festival by the Canarian producer is founded on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and citizen awareness, using audiovisual media and culture as an educational instrument to achieve various objectives. These include the challenge of ensuring quality education, creating sustainable cities and communities, promoting responsible production and consumption, protecting submarine and terrestrial life, and fostering partnerships.
The competition, originally from Germany by producer Moving Adventures GmbH, is promoted and distributed in Spain, Andorra, and Portugal by Kinema Producciones SL. In Spain, it is sponsored by the Honorable Council of Lanzarote, through the Sociedad de Promoción Exterior de Lanzarote, and collaborates with the Lanzarote Film Commission, the Centros de Arte, Cultura y Turismo (CACT) of Lanzarote, NGOs like Sea Shepherd Global, Surfrider Foundation, Fundación Ambiente Europeo, Lanzarote Limpia Lanzarote, and the Club de Actividades Subacuáticas Pastinaca, among others.
