About the festival
Every year, the glitterati of Independent Film Makers gathers to raise their voice in unison for the noble cause of saving our oceans in the acclaimed festival screening ocean-related films from all over the world. The movies range from ocean adventure to science and marine life and stretch even to ocean sports and coastal cultures.
Ever since its inception in 2004, the Ocean Film Festival has led the conversation about sustainable conservation of our water bodies through a four-day engagement event based on the content gathered from all around the world.
The festival holds the screening of films in association with the directors, producers and leading industry experts, in an aim to adequately equip our audience with becoming a better steward for the oceans.
Mission and Vision
- IOFF is a year-round ocean conservation organization.
- IOFF offers a global stage to the environmentally-conscious movies and post-screening discussions with the experts behind it.
The festival aims at educating the audience through the means of cinematic representation and getting them to participate in the environmental efforts of cleaning the ocean. IOFF takes inspiration from the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has been drawing audiences for more than 40 years.
“The mission of the IOFF is to save our oceans one film at a time. Since our inception in 2004, each year the IOFF features a four-day ocean engagement event for audiences from around the world. Through the power of visual storytelling and independent films, audiences of all ages are inspired to become better ocean stewards and help to protect our oceans.” – IOFF Vision
Along with the four-day festival, the team at IOFF holds exciting ocean-related events throughout the year, which can be attended by people from all around the world.
17th Annual IOFF
The 17th annual IOFF will take place on March 12 – 15, 2020 at the Cowell Theatre, Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, along with other prominent theatres within the Bay Area.
Along with the movie screening, IOFF also organizes Education Programs, Student Film Competition, Traveling Programs and Fall Benefits.
General Submission Guidelines
IOFF accepts movies from all leading genres that focus on the varied aspects of the ocean. The content should range from, but not be limited, to conservation efforts, marine wildlife, ocean environments, ocean sports, exploration, and coastal cultures.
The movies based on the topics of Oceanic Heroes, with the subject of championing the cause of conservation, are overwhelmingly appreciated, as the power of cinematic influence is the heaviest trending topic to be screened. The films can be narratives, documentaries, animation, short-movies, along with the full-length movies.
Dates of submission
IOFF begins inviting movies as soon as the festival for the year is concluded, up until the 18th of the following January.