The Ocean in Motion Film Festival is an exciting international film festival bringing Portuguese audiences a selection of the world’s most awe-inspiring ocean films, from both above and below the deep blue.

This is the inaugral year of the film festival in Portugal and it aims to inspire, educate and raise awareness about the importance of the ocean and its protection.

The festival, organised by Ocean Recovery Alliance, has been previously hosted in Hong Kong and is now bringing the excitement of ocean films to the Portuguese community. Films of varying lengths exploring a range of ocean themes will be showcased in venues across Lisbon and Cascais. Film screenings are from 7:00pm on June 4 and June 6 at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, and on June 5 at Cascais Cultural Centre. A special outdoor screening will take place at 9.30pm on June 6 at Cidadela de Cascais.

Films in this festival come from around the world documenting the beauty and power of the ocean and show stories on nature, adventure, sports, humanity, humour and anything sea-themed.

The festival adds a cultural dimension to a unique clustering of ocean-related events taking place in Lisbon in early June including the Economist’s World Ocean Summit June (3-5), Blue Week Lisbon, the Plasticity Forum (June 8-9), the Cascais Swim for the Ocean challenge (June 7) and World Ocean Day (June 8).

Doug Woodring of the Ocean Recovery Alliance says: “If everyone contributes or at least becomes aware of the importance and value of the Ocean, then we have succeeded. Films are a great way to convey beauty, inspiration and the thriving life that the ocean offers, engaging the young and old, and hopefully leading to a heightened level of awareness for keeping the ocean healthy. The films offer a great snapshot of some of what happens in, on and under the water, and you won’t want to miss these screenings.”

The UK Branch of the Foundation is supporting this film festival as part of its Valuing the Ocean strand of work to raise awareness among the general public of the role marine natural capital plays in human wellbeing and prosperity. We hope that our support will highlight the role of film in communicating the value of the ocean and will influence public opinion on conservation issues in a more creative and engaging way.

Valuing the Ocean is part of the wider Gulbenkian Oceans Initiative (GOI) launched by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon in 2013.

The GOI is concerned with the economic valuation of marine ecosystem services and centres on a specific pilot study in Portugal. It facilitates a range of initiatives to increase public understanding and promote policy action in Portugal and beyond.

To whet your appetite, watch the following Ocean in Motion film festival trailer below and click here to view stills from a selection of the films.

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Click here to book tickets and find information about the film screenings at the Foundation’s Lisbon Branch. Click here to book film screenings in Cascais.