Gijón will become an open window towards the ocean, inviting us to reflect on our role in protecting the planet. From November 4 to 9, filmmakers, biologists, scientists, explorers and nature lovers will meet at the BIOPARC Aquarium of Gijón to discuss the most urgent challenges that affect our seas.
Wild Oceans FilmFest, an international documentary film festival organized by the BIOPARC Foundation in collaboration with BIOPARC Acuario de Gijón, was born in 2022 with the aim of highlighting the need to fight for ocean conservation. Today, it has established itself as an essential event in the global panorama of sustainability.
«In this third edition of Wild Oceans FilmFest, we have the ambitious goal of reaching as many people as possible with our message. We have taken a big step forward to achieve this,” explains Fernando González Sitges, director of Wild Oceans FilmFest and the BIOPARC Foundation.
The festival will screen 10 finalist documentaries selected from nearly 500 international productions, from almost 80 countries, in the BIOPARC Acuario Gijón Auditorium, which will be accompanied by discussions. In addition, Wild Oceans FilmFest will organize a program of parallel activities with masterclasses and conferences aimed at professionals, and a themed gymkhana to enjoy with the family. Educational screenings will also be held in schools where students will have the opportunity to watch the finalist documentary Ocean Odyssey, followed by an interactive meeting with experts from the BIOPARC Aquarium of Gijón.
Science, cinema, sport and conservation
The international documentary film festival will officially begin on November 4, with the screening of the German film The North Drift, in which filmmaker Steffen Krones undertakes an exploration with GPS buoys, revealing the worrying problem of plastic pollution. After the film, the colloquium “The human being in the depths of the ocean: an enormous challenge” will be held, moderated by Fernando González, director of the Wild Oceans FilmFest and the BIOPARC Foundation. The aeronautical engineer, Héctor Salvador, will participate in it, the first Spaniard to descend into the Mariana Trench, 10,706 meters deep. A unique opportunity to learn about the devastating effects of plastics in the deepest oceans thanks to the scientific evidence that the explorer will provide.
On November 5, the second episode of the Netflix series Life on Our Planet: The First Frontier will be screened. Produced by Steven Spielberg, it tells how marine species thrived in an inhospitable world, facing mass extinctions. Subsequently, Keith Scholey, director of the series and one of the most important nature documentary producers in the world, who has worked for Netflix, Disney Nature and BBC, will participate in the colloquium “The lessons that prehistoric oceans offer us about the future.” of our seas” with the professor of Zoology at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Arturo Morales.
On November 6, the event will focus on the broadcast of three short films that explore different aspects of marine conservation. A Salmon Nation, addresses the problems arising from open water salmon farming; Older Than Trees, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Pippa Ehrlich, focuses on shark conservation and Deep Trouble, which reveals the emerging dangers of underwater mining. After the screenings, Pablo Campos, head of Innovation and Development of the Junquera Marítima Group; Javier Remiro, coordinator of the Sustainable Blue Economy Area at Fundación Biodiversidad; Rubén González, director of the Knowledge Mile Chair: Gijón Azul and Víctor Montero, founder of ASMAR (Maritime actions and services), will star in the colloquium “Blue economy for the city of Gijón” in which they will debate how to achieve respectful economic development with marine resources.
Blue Carbon: Nature’s Hidden Power, which highlights the potential of coastal ecosystems to absorb carbon and combat climate change through the perspective of music producer and biologist Jayda Guy, will air on November 7. In addition, it will be the topic of the colloquium called “Coastal ecosystems and the fight against climate change: from local communities to inspiring cinema” in which Nicolas Brown, director of the film and one of the most influential documentary filmmakers in the United Kingdom and the United States, will participate. USA, together with the singer, producer and environmental activist Macaco.
Lola Higueras, historian, pioneer in underwater archeology, and first female diver of the Spanish Navy, will close the day with a conference at the Kraken ArtFood restaurant located in the BIOPARC Aquarium of Gijón. In it, attendees will explore the mysteries of the seabed and learn about the health of the oceans, thanks to their extensive experience at the National Archaeological Museum and the Naval Museum.
On November 8, Ana Salceda, a Spanish producer based in San Francisco and founder of initiatives such as the Big Fish Initiative, dedicated to the protection of fish spawning areas, will offer a masterclass at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Oviedo. Salceda, an expert in designing environmental outreach campaigns, will teach how to create a campaign inspired by her documentary, Treasure of the Caribbean, with the goal of turning science into action and connecting the public with the oceans.
The festival will conclude on November 9 with a day dedicated to surfing and sailing. The day will begin with the Conservation Gymkhana, a free event to enjoy with the family and learn about the importance of caring for the oceans. In the afternoon, films such as Children of Teahupo’o, Beyond Shores, Water 3 and Rewild Our Seas will be screened, highlighting sport as a tool for raising awareness and the vulnerability of the seas.Principle of the form
Award to Manu San Félix
In its first edition, Wild Oceans FilmFest already brought together 269 productions from 47 countries. Since then, it has grown significantly, with increasing collaboration from filmmakers, activists and relevant figures. This year, in its third edition, it has broken a record, practically doubling the number of candidates and participating countries. Of the 491 productions received, only 37 have been selected as finalists.
The awards gala, presented by biomedical doctor and scientific communication expert Helena González, will be held on November 8. In it, the marine biologist Manu San Félix will be honored with the “Saving the Oceans” award. With more than 12,000 dives and more than 15 years working for National Geographic, and Pristine Seas, one of the most important marine conservation initiatives in the world, San Félix will receive the award from the Solomon Islands, where he is currently participating in an expedition
How to attend
The BIOPARC Foundation and the BIOPARC Aquarium of Gijón have already opened ticket sales for the festival. They can be purchased at www.wildoceansfilmfest.org/entradas at a symbolic price of 3 euros while supplies last.
The amount raised will go entirely to projects to save the marine ecosystems in which the BIOPARC Foundation has been working since its birth in 2011. Among them, the Center for the Recovery of Marine Animals (CRAMA) stands out, co-financed with the Biodiversity Foundation and intended to house species wild animals stranded on the Asturian coast
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