About Us

The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on the importance of this vital ecosystem…

The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival is a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to using film to increase public understanding of the environmental, social and cultural importance of marine ecosystems and foster a spirit of ocean stewardship. SFOFF is now the premier venue in North America for ocean films and reached the significant five-year mark at the recent annual Festival, which ran Feb 1-3, 2008. For the past five years, SFOFF has produced an acclaimed festival of ocean-themed films from all over the world that are largely unavailable to the general public. Themes range from marine science and industry to sports and adventure. The films are intended not only to entertain the audience but, more importantly, to educate and encourage active participation in ocean conservation.

This event was the first film festival of its kind in North America and the second in the world, behind a well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France that has drawn large audiences for 40 years. The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival has attracted a loyal and growing audience since its launch in 2004, drawing diverse crowds from the Bay Area and beyond, including film enthusiasts, water sports fans, educators, and environmental supporters. The 2008 Festival presented an expanded four-day program of 50 films and including an Opening Night Party, the 2nd Annual Student Festival, a multi-media performance, SFOFF’s first community video project, and the introduction of new Festival Awards. SFOFF is now the premier festival in North America for filmmakers from around the world to screen their works featuring the magnificence of our oceans, threats to marine life, and the human connection with the marine environment.

Future plans include:

Expanding our Education Program to include more schools, more days, and the possibility of bringing the Festival into the classroom.
Expanding local screening events to increase SFOFF’s presence year-round.
Developing a year-round traveling program of SFOFF films that brings elements of the Festival to both national and international audiences.
Broadening the reach of excellent but under-distributed ocean films.

Beginning in the Bay Area and expanding to the world, The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival leaves a large educational footprint that is vital to the health of our ocean environment, economy and culture.

For additional information please contact info@oceanfilmfest.org