Blue Water Film Festival 2026 – March 19–22, 2026
The 7th Annual Blue Water Film Festival will take place March 19–22, 2026, across La Jolla and San Diego, continuing its mission as a U.S.-based festival dedicated to environmental storytelling and ocean. Founded in 2020 and presented by the non-profit Blue Water Institute, the event coincides with United Nations World Water Day and continues its mission of promoting global awareness around water security, marine ecosystems, and climate resilience through cinema.
The 2026 program includes 31 films in competition — 10 feature films, 15 short films, and 6 animated works — reflecting the festival’s international outlook, with approximately half of the selected titles originating outside the United States. Screenings and special events will be held at venues including the La Jolla Seaside Forum, The LOT in La Jolla, La Valencia Hotel, and UCSD Park & Market.
This year’s Eco Impact Award will be presented to House of Fish, directed by Santiago Burin des Roziers and narrated by Woody Harrelson, a documentary that brings to the screen the story of Tuscan fisherman and environmental activist Paolo Fanciulli and his Casa dei Pesci project off the coast of Maremma. Through an underwater “house of fish” made of marble blocks and sculptures designed to block illegal bottom trawling and regenerate marine habitats, the initiative combines art, conservation, and local community engagement, offering an Italian-driven environmental success story with global resonance. The award will be presented by Festival Director Greg Reitman during the Blue Water Awards ceremony on March 22 at UCSD Park & Market. The evening will also honor Jon Rose with the Eco Hero Award for his advocacy in ocean conservation and climate awareness, and will conclude with a live performance by Grammy-winning musician Taj Mahal.
Opening Night on March 19 will feature a reception followed by screenings of the short films Guardian of the Wild (Benjamín Soto), Shimmer (Andrés Palma), and Love Birds (Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris), culminating with the feature documentary Wealth Untold directed by Eladio Arvelo. A special centerpiece presentation, JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY by Laurent Bouzereau, will screen poolside at the historic La Valencia Hotel, marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark film with new reflections from Steven Spielberg. The festival will close with The Eyes of Ghana, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot.
Among the animated selections, the program also includes Go Go Around Italy directed by Francesco Colombo, offering an additional Italian presence within the 2026 slate and reinforcing the festival’s cross-cultural dimension.
For further information and tickets, visit the official website: www.bluewaterfilmfestival.org.
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The 7th Annual Blue Water Film Festival will take place March 19–22, 2026, across La Jolla and San Diego, continuing its mission as a U.S.-based festival dedicated to environmental storytelling and ocean. Founded in 2020 and presented by the non-profit Blue Water Institute, the event coincides with United Nations World Water Day and continues its mission of promoting global awareness around water security, marine ecosystems, and climate resilience through cinema.
The 2026 program includes 31 films in competition — 10 feature films, 15 short films, and 6 animated works — reflecting the festival’s international outlook, with approximately half of the selected titles originating outside the United States. Screenings and special events will be held at venues including the La Jolla Seaside Forum, The LOT in La Jolla, La Valencia Hotel, and UCSD Park & Market.
This year’s Eco Impact Award will be presented to House of Fish, directed by Santiago Burin des Roziers and narrated by Woody Harrelson, a documentary that brings to the screen the story of Tuscan fisherman and environmental activist Paolo Fanciulli and his Casa dei Pesci project off the coast of Maremma. Through an underwater “house of fish” made of marble blocks and sculptures designed to block illegal bottom trawling and regenerate marine habitats, the initiative combines art, conservation, and local community engagement, offering an Italian-driven environmental success story with global resonance. The award will be presented by Festival Director Greg Reitman during the Blue Water Awards ceremony on March 22 at UCSD Park & Market. The evening will also honor Jon Rose with the Eco Hero Award for his advocacy in ocean conservation and climate awareness, and will conclude with a live performance by Grammy-winning musician Taj Mahal.
Opening Night on March 19 will feature a reception followed by screenings of the short films Guardian of the Wild (Benjamín Soto), Shimmer (Andrés Palma), and Love Birds (Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris), culminating with the feature documentary Wealth Untold directed by Eladio Arvelo. A special centerpiece presentation, JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY by Laurent Bouzereau, will screen poolside at the historic La Valencia Hotel, marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark film with new reflections from Steven Spielberg. The festival will close with The Eyes of Ghana, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot.
Among the animated selections, the program also includes Go Go Around Italy directed by Francesco Colombo, offering an additional Italian presence within the 2026 slate and reinforcing the festival’s cross-cultural dimension.
For further information and tickets, visit the official website: www.bluewaterfilmfestival.org.
Share:
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