Enjoy a few blue movies
The Big Blue Film Fest showcases ocean-themed films at the confluence of marine sciences, humanities and the arts. Films will be shown at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28.
In addition to the films there will be Q&A sessions with filmmakers and special guests and an awards ceremony. Food will be available for sale between screenings.
Block A — Stunning Seascapes
“The Sanctuary”
Recounting his love of the water, Ray Lewis snorkels among the vibrant sea life of the marine sanctuary he has helped to protect.
“Oregon's Edge: The Creative South Coast”
Explore the South Coast with a marine debris artist, a science advocacy team and the chief of a Native American tribe.
“Fire Under the Sea” — Best Film award winner
From northern Sicily to the Bay of Naples, a scientific expedition led by Italian vulcanologist Francesco Italiano and Laurent Ballesta's team of deep divers studies volcanoes by exploring the seabed more than 100 meters below the surface to discover clues about the workings of these mountains of fire hidden beneath the surface, encountering rare and secret ecosystems and sources of energy that were previously inaccessible.
Block B — Exploring the Tides
“Oregon Surfing: A Vital Way of Life” — student film
Explores questions of what surfing on the Oregon Coast has to offer, what a surfer might interact with while in the ocean and why activism is important for our ocean.
“Horseshoe Crabs: How 350-Million-Year-Old Sea Creatures are Vital to Human Survival” — Best in Education award winner
With the worldwide race to develop and manufacture vaccines came a renewed interest in horseshoe crabs, with blue blood that has been critical to the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
“ISIIS” — student film
Board a science research vessel to see what it's like to be at sea watching the coolest black and white movie to exist, the In-Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System.
“Undersea”
A unique and beautiful story about living your passion in a place that the majority of the planet’s population doesn’t have access to and where one little step can be fatal.
Block C — Untold Stories
“Pumping at Sea” — student film
Jami Ivory shows us that you don't have to put your dreams on hold to be a mother.
“Reclaim Your Water: Natasha Smith” — Most Inspiring Film award winner
Smith is a core member of the Ebony Beach Club. She shares her own story in hopes of increasing representation in surf, skate and any other sport or activity that has historically been exclusive.
“Salt Lines”
The story of a Maine-based single mother hauling lobster traps for a living in an unforgiving man’s world. She is raising her son, created with an anonymous sperm donor, to be the fifth generation “Lobsterman” in her family.
“Two Kinds of Water”
Explores the lives of a family living in the Guet Ndar fishing community on Senegal’s north coast — a country whose name literally means “Our boat.” The 5,500km coastline of West Africa is home to some of the most diverse and dangerous fishing grounds in the world. It provides a livelihood to eight million people yet climate change, overfishing and contested waters are producing new and deadly threats every day.
“Above Water”
On the remote Alaskan island of Sarichef, the small village of Shishmaref gets smaller every year as water levels rise. In the summer of 2021, two artists were invited to the island to paint a mural, but as they learned more about the culture and the impact of the melting permafrost, they began to appreciate the deeper history of the local Inupiaq people and their struggle to maintain their culture in the face of an impending climate disaster.
Block D — Majestic Marine Mammals
“Journey of Theresia”
An artistic adventure through the Atlantic Ocean and look at the journey that both scientists and a young mother whale must take.
“Kelp Me Please” — student film, Student Filmmaker award winner
Created by students at OMSI's Documentary Explorers Camp in Newport.
“Close Encounters”
Reporter Laura Madrueño traveled to the Riviera Maya in Mexico to see firsthand whether the bad reputation of one of the most feared wild animals in the world is warranted.
“The Sand-Eating Shark”
Follow a lemon shark called Manoela through the waters of Fernando do Noronha off the coast of Brazil.
On Friday, the Block A — Stunning Seascapes films and awards ceremony is from 6 to 8 pm. On Saturday, Block B — Exploring the Tides, is from 10 am to noon. Block C — Untold Stories, is from 1 to 3 pm. Block D — Majestic Marine Life is from 4 to 6 pm.
The films will be shown in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building Auditorium at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, located at 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport. For more information, go to hmsc.oregonstate.edu.