Ocean Film Festival sails into town

OCEAN lovers will get a chance to watch an awe-inspiring line-up of independent films next week when the Ocean Film Festival hits Geelong on its tour around the country.

Now in its 11th year, the festival features a diverse selection of ocean-themed films, each of varying lengths, styles and topics, that showcase parts of the ocean around the globe and the different ways in which people interact with them.

The annual tour now encompasses 10 countries and will head to New Zealand when it finishes its Australian circuit later this month.

Festival founder and chief executive Jemima Robinson said that while film was a big part of the festival, the tour was really about the coming together of community.

“The Ocean Film Festival Tour continues to be a platform for storytelling that brings the beauty, challenges and importance of our oceans to audiences around the world.

“This year’s line-up is a testament to the incredible journeys, talents and environmental messages that resonate with us all.

“We are thrilled to share these inspiring films and celebrate the magic of the ocean with our dedicated audience.”

This year’s showing is comprised of seven films totalling almost three hours of viewing, allowing audiences to experience the seascapes of Tahiti, the remoteness of the Antarctic and the transformation of plastic debris into artistic portraits.

Three of the films showcase Australian talent, including a surfing dog from Melbourne named Spike.

Ms Robinson said the present crowd favourite was Ice Maiden, which follows Australian sailor Lisa Blair on her mission to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica.

“It is a wild ride and what I love about this one is it really takes you firsthand into parts of the ocean that most of us won’t ever get to see,” she said.

“You see the absolute magnitude and the power of the ocean.”

Tackling a journey that has only been completed twice before, Blair challenges both the limits of human endurance and the unpredictability of the Southern Ocean.

The Geelong showing of this year’s Ocean Film Festival will take place at Village Cinemas on Tuesday, March 12 from 6.30pm.

Representatives from BirdLife Australia will also attend the event.

“We want people to walk away with a love and appreciation for the ocean,” Ms Robinson said.

“It’s one thing to watch the films and be inspired to make a positive change, but then it’s hard to know, what can I actually do?

“The problems feel so big, and we feel so powerless.

“That’s why we really like to have that local conservation organisation in the foyer to connect directly with people, [so they can] find out what’s happening in their local area as well.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, click HERE.