© 2005 Phil Frank

Press

2008 San Francisco Ocean Film Festival

Description: Now in its fifth year, The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival (SFOFF) celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. 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.

Festival Office Phone: (415) 561-6251

Event Address:
Cowell Theater
Fort Mason Center, Pier 2
San Francisco, CA 94123-1322
Cowell Theater Box Office Phone: (415) 441-3400

Website: www.oceanfilmfest.org

SF Ocean Film Festival Rolls Out Blue Carpet

Swimmers braving the waters of the North Pole, sea birds coming back from extinction in Bermuda and eco-savvy fishermen in Papua New Guinea are just a few of the stars that will be gracing the giant screen when the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival (SFOFF) returns to the Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason on February 1-3. Now in its fifth year, SFOFF 2008 will feature more than four-dozen documentary, and animated films from around the world, including deep dives into marine science, coastal cultures, ocean exploration and saltwater sports. As in the past, programs will include talks by filmmakers and content experts.

Global Premiere

This year’s festival includes the global premier of “19 Arrests, No Convictions” by celebrated San Francisco filmmaker Judy Irving, best known for “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.” 19 Arrests celebrates the colorful life of bar owner George Farnsworth, the oldest person to swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco on New Year’s Day. “Science of Big Waves” explains the physics behind cresting waves at Mavericks.

Issues

Ecological issues always play an important role in festival programming. In “Pulp, Poo & Perfection” surfers tackle the harmful issue of sewage in the ocean, while “Higher Ground” highlights erosion problems on Florida beaches. As part of SFOFF’s Cosco Busan Oil Spill Video Project, a selection of short films made by local filmmakers and submitted to SFOFF’s YouTube group will be screened throughout the weekend. Often shot on consumer digital cameras, these give a “citizen filmmaker’s” view of the environmental damage, clean-up efforts and emotional reaction to the oil spill. The SFOFF Bay Oil Spill 2007 Video Project is presented by CREDO Mobile.

Special Events

In addition to seven film programs, SFOFF 2008 includes several special events. In a SFOFF special presentation, Roger Payne and Lisa Harrow perform SeaChange: Reversing the Tide at the Cowell Theatre on Thursday, January 31, in a not-to-be-missed event that explores the crucial importance of living sustainably. On Friday night, the festival officially kicks-off with an Opening Night Party at the Aquarium of the Bay, with food and drink from many of the Bay Area's top restaurants and sustainable seafood purveyors, live music and dancing. The 2008 Festival inaugurates four competitive Awards for the best films in our Adventure, Environment, Wildlife and Culture categories. Awards will be presented at the Festival's Closing Night screening.

Tickets

Tickets go on sale January 1 from the Box Office at Fort Mason Center or online at www.oceanfilmfest.org. Regular programs are $10, Opening Night tickets are $50 and a Festival Pass for seven programs is $60. For more information, contact the festival office at (415) 561-6251.

Photos for Media Use