MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The BLUE Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Event is devoted to utilizing the power of film to inspire appreciation and protection of our ocean and the life within.

With a commitment to honoring excellence in film-making, celebrating creativity and nurturing the next generation of great visual media story telling, BLUE is dedicated to providing a catalytic forum where Filmmakers, the marine science and ocean conservation communities come together to conspire & collaborate. BLUE is a must attend event that showcases the most entertaining & engaging ocean films of our time.

BLUE is proud to be reaching people all around the globe with Inspiration, Education & Conservation through Entertainment. BLUE On Tour is actively leveraging the power of film to engage people of all ages to become empowered stewards of our ocean and our planet.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

...Because great films CAN change the world...

BLUE: A Global Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Event

BLUE is a biennial festival that in just two seasons has become regarded as the premiere ocean film festival by combining ocean films, an industry conference and a conservation summit unlike any other event in the world. The festival has earned its reputation by bringing together more than 500 of the finest filmmakers, media professionals and researchers in a fun and engaging environment to present the largest and most entertaining collection of ocean related films anywhere. BLUE also is recognized as more than a niche event and has become a rising star on international film festival circuit for its trend setting activities. Featuring more than 100 outstanding ocean films and an exceptional week of mingling with renowned filmmakers, media execs, and revered researchers, the festival provides exceptional workshops, fun social activities and unprecedented opportunities for both the general public and film industry professionals.

BLUE 2012

Film Festival | Industry Conference | Conservation Summit

September 24-30, 2012

Set next to one of the world's most scenic landscapes along the Monterey Bay Peninsula, BLUE is a high-energy, enlightening and entertaining 7-Day festival showcasing the world's finest ocean films and award winning marine photography along with a filmmakers marketplace, science and conservation seminars, international policy discussions and a robust ocean media industry conference.

BLUE's industry conference provides unparallelled educational and networking opportunities for underwater and ocean related productions. Industry Conference seminars and workshops offer mentoring from esteemed professionals from the synergistic disciplines of media technology, underwater film-making, marine photography, ocean conservation, deep sea exploration, marine sciences, project funding, television programming, feature film production and content distribution.

Festival-goers get a chance to enjoy hundreds of entertaining films, exciting programs and great camaraderie and in an inspiring destination.

“More than films, more than a celebration of all things wet, the Blue Ocean Film Festival brings together a potent mix of artists, scientists, conservationists, decision makers, industry leaders, inquisitive teachers, lively kids and more. Come to be in the company of kindred spirits and make useful contacts. Come to be entertained, or inspired, or informed. Come to have a good time. Whatever strums your blue heartstrings just don't miss out. Dr. Sylvia Earle Founder Mission Blue, SEAlliance and a National Geographic Explorer in Residence

BLUE Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Summit 2012 agenda consists of:

1) International Film Competition: Honoring all genres of Ocean related films. The best ocean films from around the globe are selected to be screened and celebrated during the festival and recognized at the BLUE Carpet Awards Ceremony.

2) Industry Conference: Offering a full slate of programs for professional development. With seminars and hands-on skill building workshops focused on underwater & ocean related film-making, multimedia communication skills & excellence in underwater photography.

3) Conservation Summit: World leaders in Ocean Issues, Solutions and Policy head up a series of lectures & panels in conjunction with community educational outreach programs

As BLUE celebrates, supports and nurtures the spirit of the independent filmmaker and honors the accomplishments of film, photography and conservation heroes, Ocean Lovers, Photography Fans and Film Aficionados enjoy very special opportunities to interact with the Ocean Icons ...renowned explorers, filmmakers, scientists, artists, celebrities and conservation heroes from around the world.

BLUE is a "Not to Be Missed" event on the film festival circuit and offers both professional film-making and photography veterans & newcomers to the field an outstanding experience and opportunity for professional development and advancement.

ORGANIZERS

Debbie Kinder (CEO/Executive Director) ; Debbie Kinder (CEO/Executive Director) ; Sarah Sponaugle (Film Competition Coordinator) ; Sarah Sponaugle (Film Competition Coordinator)

GENERAL RULES

BLUE invites entries from filmmakers and broadcasters from around the globe on any topic which relates to the oceans.

Programs may be of any length, may originate in any format and be non-fictional or fictional.

The submitted work need not have been broadcast or publicly exhibited.

Please submit 4 DVDs (Format 0 or 1; NTSC) per category entered for judging purposes.

To enter a single film in more than one category you must submit a separate WAB entry for each category entered or download the submission form on our website www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org

All submissions entered into the competition are eligible for the Best of BLUE Award (Best of Festival)

Judging of finalists will be conducted by a jury of experienced professionals during the evaluation period prior to the festival. Judges will judge submissions on the basis of artistic excellence, scientific accuracy, technical achievement, and ability to inspire or empower.

The jury reserves the right to withhold an award in any category or to create a Special Jury Award for films deserving special recognition.

Film Finalists will be notified after final judging at least 60 days prior to the event so travel plans can be made.

All films selected as finalists will be made available to festival delegates and the general public throughout course of the festival.

Duplicate awards will be available for an additional fee.

Awards will be made out to the entrant unless specified otherwise. Any special requests after the award notification will require a change fee. If no individual is specified, then the award will name the producer of the film as the recipient.

Entrants hereby grant and assign to the festival and its successors and licensees the right to copy the entry in its entirety to facilitate promotional efforts and the technical operations of the festival, in and through any and all media formats now known or hereafter devised.

Entrant acknowledges that BLUE's winning entries may be included in BLUE On Tour, a traveling film festival. BLUE On Tour and the festival-winning films may be made available to non-profit groups, aquariums & zoos, schools and other organizations for special screenings, including paid or donation screening events at locations around the globe.

All entries, if selected to receive an award, may be included in our traveling festival unless filmmaker or authorized representative specifically requests their film to be excluded from BLUE On Tour.

All submissions will be retained permanently by BLUE Ocean Film Festival for educational, promotional, traveling festival, and archival library purposes. Promotional segments of any film submitted will not exceed two minutes in length.

BLUE is not responsible for any copyright infringement resulting from public screenings or printed promotional materials.

TERMS and CONDITIONS

By submitting an entry to BLUE entrant agrees that they have read and agree to abide by BLUE's festival & submission rules, that all information contained in application is true and correct, and that they are authorized to submit the film to the festival for the awards competition and public screenings.

BLUE Ocean Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless BLUE Ocean Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.