CONTACT
Debbie Kinder
727.466.8016
dk@blueoceanfilmfestival.org
OCEANS FILM WORLD COMES TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S.
BLUE—a Global Oceans Film and Conservation Event, Launches
Inaugural Film Festival, June 11-14, 2009 in Savannah
March 27, 2009 (Savannah, Georgia) —BLUE, a global film and conservation event, will launch its first Industry Film Festival June 11-14, 2009 in Savannah. The purpose of the event is to honor, promote and share films that inspire people to protect our oceans and the life within. BLUE will provide an intimate venue where ocean filmmakers can interact with leaders in the oceans conservation, broadcasting and research fields, lending support to the filmmakers, who provide a critical role in educating and empowering the public.
Key to the event is the BLUE Ocean Film Festival awards competition, honoring films that further ocean conservation, exploration and science, or promote interaction with our seas on any level. Given this is the first industry film festival and awards competition in the Unites States that is dedicated to oceans, BLUE expects the finalists to represent one of the greatest collections of ocean films in the world. All finalist films will be screened during the four-day industry event, which will be held simultaneously with BLUE’s Community Film Festival in Savannah.
Among the ocean conservation, science. broadcast and film leaders participating in BLUE are:• DR. SYLVIA EARLE, Explorer-in-Residence National Geographic
• STRATTON LEOPOLD, Hollywood Producer (Mission Impossible III)
• FABIEN COUSTEAU, Ocean Explorer/Filmmaker
• CELINE COUSTEAU, Ocean Explorer/Filmmaker
• PAUL GASEK, Discovery Channel/Science Channel
• KEENAN SMART, National Geographic Television
• STEVE BURNS, National Geographic Channel
• CARTER FIGUEROA, History Channel
• DAN BASTA, National Marine Sanctuaries System
• GEORGE SEDBERRY, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
• GREGORY D. BOSSART, V. M. D., Ph. D., Georgia Aquarium
• JOINT OCEANS COMMISSION, State of Our Oceans Panel
• GREG STONE, Ph.D., New England Aquarium
• EMORY KRISTOF, National Geographic Filmmaker/Photographer
• TOM CAMPBELL, Underwater HD Cinematographer
• BRIAN SKERRY, National Geographic Photographer
• MICHELE WESTMORLAND, Underwater Photographer
• CHRIS PALMER, American University, Center for Environmental Studies
• CRISTINA MITTERMIER, International League of Conservation Photographers
• GREG MARSHALL, National Geographic/Executive Producer and Remote Imaging
In addition to unprecedented access to industry leaders and finalist film screenings, filmmakers attending BLUE will have the opportunity to share insights on underwater wildlife filmmaking & photography, ocean conservation, deep-sea exploration and the pursuit of scientific discovery. Workshop topics will include underwater filmmaking, the business of filmmaking and production development, insights from commissioners and pitching opportunities, the latest gear and technology, making a difference with film and hands-on underwater workshops.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to join field trips to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, just off the coast of Savannah or Ossabaw Island, one of Georgia’s treasured, barrier islands.
Following the Savannah event, a selection of finalist films will be shared through BLUE on Tour, hosted by Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and by the National Marine Sanctuary System in 16 major U.S. cities adjacent to their sanctuaries.
Major sponsors for BLUE include Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (host sponsor), Georgia Aquarium and National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation. Other sponsors include Amphibico, AT&T, Savannah Film Commission, OceanFootage.com, Leopold's Ice Cream, Footage Bank HD, Save Our Seas Foundation, Diving Locker Ski Chalet, History Channel, Real Screen Magazine, Bigworld Productions, Spyhop Productions, The Marshall House and The Presidents' Quarters Inn.
Founder’s Circle members include, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Elizabeth M. Oxnard, Mr. & Mrs. Howard Morrison, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Stratton Leopold, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kinder, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Carswell, Laura Orthwein Vagnone.
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For more information on BLUE, visit www.bluefilmfest.com or sign up for festival updates through the BLUE Ocean Film Festival group on Facebook. BLUE Ocean Film Festival is presented by Make A Difference Media (MADM), a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to using the power of film to make a positive impact on important global issues. MADM is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information visit www.makeadifferencemedia.org.
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