Humans don’t live in the ocean, yet water continues to fascinate us – and the protagonists of our new program feel the same. In the ocean, they find fun and relaxation, but also the strength to push beyond their limits. Whether in competition, adventure, or scientific research, the ocean is a place where extraordinary connections emerge – between humans and even between humans and animals. You never know what surprises the ocean still holds – perhaps even groundbreaking alternatives for a plastic-free future.
Line-up
NIKA • On a scouting mission off the coast of Tenerife, marine scientist Felipe Ravina has a remarkable encounter with a curious and unusually trusting pilot whale named Nika. For Felipe, who has spent the past few years documenting the marine wildlife in this part of the Atlantic Ocean alongside his friends Mirna and Sergio, the experience is nothing short of fascinating. Pilot whales are intelligent creatures but are typically shy around humans, leaving the environmentalists puzzled by Nika's unexpected interest in Felipe. Nonetheless, this extraordinary meeting reinforces their conviction to protect her habitat – currently under threat from mass tourism and pollution—at all costs.
7 BEAT PER MINUTE • Jessea Lu can stay underwater for eight minutes – without taking a single breath. This extraordinary ability has vaulted her onto the main stage of freediving in no time: the Vertical Blue Competition in the Bahamas, where the crème de la crème of freediving gathers annually. Here, Dean’s Blue Hole, plunging 200 meters deep, offers exceptional conditions for record-breaking performances. Jessea, still a newcomer to the sport, wants to prove herself and test her body’s limits. But at these depths, the line between life and death is thin, and the competition becomes the greatest stress test of her life. In 7 Beats per Minute, we dive deep – into the ocean, into the strange world of competitive freediving, and into the psyche of Jessea Lu. 40'
KELP! • In Search of the Green Gold of the Seas: Aboard the Gleaner, young filmmaker Caylon LaMantia embarks on a quest to discover the hidden treasure of Britain's coastline: Kelp! Her mission? To explore the fascinating world of this remarkable marine plant that could save our oceans – and perhaps even our planet. Among the rugged cliffs of the British coast, the team encounters inspiring visionaries and uncovers a surprising truth: in the fight against climate change, this underestimated underwater plant might just be our greatest ally. 15'
TRILOGY: NEW WAVE • Three best friends, a road trip and the search for the perfect break: Ethan Ewing, Griffin Colapinto and Seth Moniz are among the world's best surfers. The three exceptional talents have been meeting up at competitions since their youth, and now they are setting off on a surf trip together. In Trilogy: New Wave, we visit a series of dream destinations with Ethan, Griffin and Seth – and get to the bottom of the question of how to maintain their friendship and love of surfing despite the competition and increasing pressure to perform. 25'
ROW OF LIFE • Angela Madsen, a former Paralympic athlete, dreams of rowing solo from California to Hawaii. Having successfully completed several ocean crossings with a team, she is now determined to tackle this challenge on her own. For Angela, rowing solo is the natural progression of her previous achievements, during which she continually pushed her physical and mental limits. In Row of Life, we follow Angela on her ocean adventure and get to know an extraordinary woman who faced countless setbacks throughout her life but never lost her love for life or her sense of humor. 30'
Information about the event: all films will be shown in the original version with subtitles in the local language. The film program has a total length of around 130 minutes and a break of ±30 minutes. With supporting program the event lasts a total of 2.5 - 3 hours.