Europe’s most extensive and significant ocean celebration, the International Ocean Film Tour, is teaming up for its tenth anniversary with the global Sea Shepherd Global movement, sharing a mutual objective of direct marine conservation efforts worldwide. For its gathering in Santa Cruz de Tenerife this Sunday, 14th July at 6:00 p.m., the festival is honoured to welcome its general manager, Captain Alex Cornelissen, a seasoned campaigner with over 25 missions and five expeditions to Antarctica to halt Japanese whale hunters.
Showcasing five documentary shorts from four continents and several Spanish premiers, the ocean film festival will present the short film “The Return to Antarctica,” featuring 20 minutes of the Sea Shepherd team in action. Captain Peter Hammarstedt and the Sea Shepherd Global team will transport Tenerife attendees on their voyage to Antarctica to expose the extensive overfishing of krill, the primary food source for whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds. The indiscriminate industrial harvesting of krill poses a severe threat to not just these species but the entire Antarctic ecosystem. Despite being legally permitted, krill extraction jeopardises the survival of the entire marine food chain in the continent. Through a thought-provoking short film, the Sea Shepherd Global team, along with Peter Hammarstedt and Alistair Allan from the Bob Brown Foundation of Australia, strive to advocate for restrictions on industrial krill fishing.
Special guest Captain Alex Cornelissen will delve into these topics and more at the festival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, offering a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the work of this dedicated team, advocating for global ocean protection and striving to enact necessary legislation to safeguard the seas.
Cornelissen joined Sea Shepherd Global in 2002 as a cook, never anticipating how the experience would alter his trajectory. His journey since then has included saving turtles in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, freeing dolphins ensnared in nets in Taiji, aiding seals in Canada, and engaging in other campaigns that have fundamentally shifted his perception of the world’s oceans. Since January 2014, Captain Cornelissen has been resolute in his commitment to fostering the growth of Sea Shepherd and expanding Neptune’s Armada, delivering presentations worldwide to spotlight Sea Shepherd’s initiatives and motivate others to join the cause.
In addition to the short documentary “The Return to Antarctica,” the International Ocean Film Tour commemorates its tenth anniversary with gripping, adrenaline-fuelled narratives recounted first-hand, produced across South Africa, Austria, the United States, and Cuba. Venturing to Earth’s most untamed realms, the festival showcases unseen perspectives through inspiring life stories—no actors, just real-life tales that resonate with millions of global viewers annually. Europe’s most extensive ocean film festival is dedicated to espousing the principles of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for the Circular Economy, with the original event featuring Spanish subtitles and sign language translation, serving as a potent instrument in raising awareness about the imperative to preserve and revere the oceans.
With over 16 showings in Spain and approximately 270 exhibitions across 18 nations worldwide, the International Ocean Film Tour spotlights the Canary Islands, featuring the 42-time windsurfing world champion, Bjørn Dunkenbeck, in “Born to Windsurf.” The festival showcases the collective struggle for equality and freedom in “Havana Libre,” depicting efforts to legalise surfing in Cuba. Ice-water swimmer Melissa Kegler pushes her limits by attempting to become the first American to swim a two-kilometre stretch in sub-five-degree waters without a wetsuit in “Ice Mermaid.” Furthermore, the short film “Older than Trees” delves beneath the enigmatic surface to explore shark species that have thrived for over 400 million years.
Deep Dive for Two and Oceanic Delights
Going beyond mere cinema, the ocean festival promises unforgettable experiences for attendees in Tenerife. Partnering with local entities and companies, Buceo Norte Gran Canaria will gift four lucky winners double vouchers (for two individuals) for immersive diving experiences coupled with professional photography. Winners can choose from an interpreted diving expedition (for certified divers only), a diving baptism, or a freediving initiation, adding another dimension to their festival experience.
Furthermore, the festival will transcend the screen, embarking on beach clean-up activities in Tenerife to instigate change, raise awareness, set an example, and foster a collective commitment to ocean preservation. Collaborating with the Volunteer Environmental Department of the Cabildo de Tenerife, together with support from the Terramare Environmental Association, the Guaxara Scout Group, and the Güímar City Council, an environmental workshop is scheduled at El Socorro Beach and Chimisay Beach (Güímar) on Saturday, 13th July, open to a maximum of 50 participants upon prior registration, priming attendees for the cinematic showcase the following day.
Having debuted in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the festival has since journeyed through Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Santander, San Sebastian, Gijon, Madrid, Seville, Cadiz, Palma de Mallorca, and Menorca, among others. Following Tenerife, the festival’s itinerary underscores a robust commitment to the Canary Islands, with upcoming stops at the enchanting auditorium of Jameos del Agua in Lanzarote on 27th July and the Corralejo Auditorium in Fuerteventura on 27th September.
This German-born festival, produced by Moving Adventures GmbH, is presented and distributed in Spain and Andorra by Kinema Producciones SL, with generous support from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, the Autonomous Culture Body, the Guimerá Theatre, the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies division of the Cabildo de Tenerife, and collaborating partners such as Sea Shepherd Global, Buceo Norte Gran Canaria, Top Time Eventos, and the University of La Laguna.
