Full house and resounding success of the number 1 ocean film festival in Europe, the International Ocean Film Tour, which has stopped at Jameos del Agua in Lanzarote in a unique event on the tour. The festival, an international ambassador for the defense of the sea, with 270 events in 18 countries, has taken hundreds of spectators around the planet, visiting deep waters, radical landscapes in an adrenaline rush, with a close, inspiring and moving proposal through its 5 short films from 4 continents.
Hundreds of hearts, in full capacity and even with a waiting list, have been moved with the emotion of the stories of this edition, produced in South Africa, Austria, the United States and Cuba of this edition, in original version and with translation in sign language.
In addition, the island has been a global meeting point with exceptional guests such as the 42-time world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, from the documentary Born to Windsurf, Fran Gonzáles and Yenia Expósito from Havana Libre, the CEO of Moving Adventures GmbH, the German production company that owns the festival, Joachim Hellinger, and Captain Alex Cornelissen, CEO of Sea Shepherd Global, special guest giving voice to the short film Return to Antarctica.
The CEO of Moving Adventures GmbH, Joachim Hellinger, has declared himself "fascinated" by this event, "in the best and most unique setting we have on the entire international tour", in Jameos del Agua. This special anniversary edition in Lanzarote is "exactly what the International Ocean Film Tour represents, the connection with nature".
The CEO of SPEL Turismo Lanzarote, Héctor Fernández, highlighted the "pride" and "satisfaction" that this festival returns to Lanzarote again "in such a special setting, a natural auditorium that is practically unique in the world". As he pointed out, "this is not just any festival, it addresses problems that are shaking us". Bringing together these five documentaries is "an achievement" and "we want to give as much continuity as possible to this alliance" with Kinema Producciones.
An international journey
From the most enigmatic depths and alongside the oldest shark species in the world in the short film Older than trees, the festival has traveled to the icy waters of the United States to accompany Melissa in her open water swimming record in Ice mermaid to the impact of Bjørn Dunkerbeck's more than 100 kilometers per hour in Born to windsurf, a story from Canary Islands to Namibia.
This event crosses the seas to show the fight against krill fishing in Antarctica with Sea Sepherd Global, and embraces the surfing community of Cuba, which has achieved a milestone, that surfing is finally legal on the island as Havana libre tells. The CEO of Sea Sepherd Global, Alex Cornelissen, highlighted how "lucky" the 'Ocean Lovers' of Lanzarote have been to enjoy the festival in "the most special place I have ever seen in my more than 20 years as spokesperson for the organization".
As he pointed out, the Canary Islands are a key location for this global movement in its campaigns in Africa and a strategic tricontinental point. Already half of the fleet is in the Canary Islands, he stressed, ready to combat threats such as illegal fishing, overexploitation and plastic pollution around the world, among other challenges. The 42-time windsurfing world champion and protagonist of the short film Born to windsurf, Bjørn Dunkerbeck, did not miss this special event.
"Being able to enjoy this festival in Jameos del Agua is a luxury and a great opportunity." He confessed that he is very grateful and proud to "be part of this great project" of the International Ocean Film Tour "showing the Canary Islands and windsurfing" and with a call "to everyone, not only to those of us who live from the sea, to protect it, take care of it, love it and defend it" highlighting all its wealth.
A life dedicated to the oceans is something that Bjørn and David Meca, swimming champion, who has also participated in this special event in Lanzarote, share. "Protecting the oceans and bringing them closer, to me, who has dedicated my life to the sea and who has given me everything, is a reason to give thanks and an important message" that comes through inspiring personal stories "to make us aware", something crucial, as he pointed out.
Frank Gonzáles, protagonist of Havana libre has been part of the event, and spokesman for the firm and conscientious fight that has achieved that since 2021 surfing is no longer illegal in Cuba. "The festival is wonderful and being part of this anniversary edition is a pride", he celebrated, assuring that there is still much to do in Cuba and they will continue in the fight.
The Canarian documentary filmmaker Felipe Ravina did not want to miss this event "spectacular, in one of the best locations in the world".
The festival makes "people connect, because they see in images all those problems that the ocean is suffering and all that beauty that we have to protect and take care of", in an initiative that can make a difference, and "so that we change habits and that we are motivated to defend the ecosystems".
This festival, originally from Germany, through the German production company Moving Adventures GmbH, is promoted and distributed in Spain and Andorra by Kinema Producciones SL, with the sponsorship of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, through its Lanzarote Tourism Office, Lanzarote Film Commission and the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism (CACT). Also national and international collaborating entities such as Top Time Eventos, Buceo Norte Gran Canaria, the specialized diving magazine Aqua and the non-profit associations Lanzarote Limpia Lanzarote and Sea Shepherd Global.