Words Allison Reiber DiLiegro
We are proud to join forces with Oceanic to host the Oceanic Global Short Film Festival: Design Hotels Screening Series, bringing the winning films to some of our member hotels around the world, from Mexico to the Maldives. The wide array of winning films and screening locations serves as a reminder that the ocean connects all of us.
The theme of this year’s festival is Wonder, an invitation to explore the awe-inspiring aspects of the oceans, encouraging creative storytelling that underscores our profound connection to nature and highlights the vital role that the ocean plays in sustaining life on Earth. Wonder is also the theme of UN World Oceans Day, which is organized by Oceanic Global in partnership with the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS).
We hope these films bring a sense of wonder and inspire us all to be better stewards of our oceans. Discover all of our screenings here.
Direction Marc A. Chavez and Octavio Aceves Coutiño
San Diego, CA, USA
@nativelikewater / @haaguasurffilm
HAAGUA is a powerful reclamation of cultural identity, surfing, and environmental stewardship told through an Indigenous lens. Directed by Marc A. Chavez and Octavio Aceves Coutiño, and produced by Native Like Water, this film is part surf documentary, part spiritual journey.
Marc A. Chavez
Following Indigenous youth across Southern California and Mexico, HAAGUA illuminates the sacred relationship between native peoples and the water. It reframes surfing not just as a sport, but as an act of cultural remembrance and healing. Amid beautiful shots of crashing waves, the film challenges us to rethink our place in nature and our responsibility to protect it.
Direction and Production Lucas Lengagne
Paris, France
@lucaslengagne
The Cosmos Beneath is a meditation on wonder itself. French-Italian director Lucas Lengagne, a self-taught underwater filmmaker, delivers a hauntingly beautiful short that blurs the line between ocean and sky.
With ethereal visuals and a poetic narrative, the film draws parallels between the depths of the sea and the expanse of space—inviting us to reflect on our place in the universe. Through Lengagne’s work, we’re reminded that the mysteries of the ocean are as vast and unknown as the cosmos.
Direction and Production Kaushiik Subramaniam
London, UK
@kaushman
Set in a coastal village in Mozambique, Peixinho follows Bento Nhamussua, a young man teaching children to swim and igniting a movement of ocean literacy and sustainable fishing practices. Through the lens of director Kaushiik Subramaniam, this story delivers a universal message of empowerment, hope, and transformation.
Kaushiik Subramaniam
Subramaniam, a trained wildlife biologist, seamlessly weaves scientific knowledge with cinematic storytelling to deliver a narrative that is both emotionally charged and deeply informative. Peixinho showcases how one individual’s passion can ripple outward, changing the course of a whole community’s relationship with the sea.
Direction and Production Dean Spraakman
Adelaide, South Australia
@seadragon_films
In A Dragon Story, underwater cinematographer Dean Spraakman turns his lens toward one of the ocean’s most enchanting residents: the Leafy Sea Dragon. A master of camouflage, this rare marine species leads a slow, mesmerizing dance through kelp forests and seafloor habitats. Spraakman’s film captures offers an up-close view of a creature few have seen in the wild, reminding us that even the smallest beings hold great importance in marine ecosystems.
Direction Lidewij Hartog & Nino Kennis
@lidewijhartog @ninokennis
The Hague & Amsterdam Netherlands
In Develop, the ocean is not just a backdrop—it’s a source of identity, resilience, and rebirth. This striking documentary follows surf photographer Ydwer van der Heide as he redefines his connection to the sea following a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed.
Lidewij Hartog
Directors Lidewij Hartog and Nino Kennis present a raw and emotionally resonant portrait of a man learning to see beauty—and purpose—through a new lens. From cinematic wave sequences to intimate conversations, Develop explores the human capacity to adapt and thrive when faced with immense challenges.
Oceanic Global reminds us of humanity’s original role in Earth’s broader ecosystems and guides us in restoring equilibrium to our blue planet. The 501c3 non-profit deepens humanity’s connection to the Ocean as the lifeblood of the Earth, provides tangible solutions for resilience, and creates a blueprint for coexisting in harmony with our natural world.
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