About the Festival

Scientists have warned us of the Ocean’s decline.

The facts are clear, the numbers dire.

But when we’re numb to statistics, how do we inspire the transformation our Blue Planet needs?

The Oceanic Global Short Film Festival exists at this critical intersection—where art meets urgency, where storytelling becomes the catalyst, where moving images move us to action.

Since launching in 2020, the festival has drawn thousands of attendees across 11 countries worldwide. The 2026 edition expands globally under the lens Films That Awaken New Depths, bringing powerful Ocean stories from major cities to local communities where culture is shaped. Judged by an expert jury including legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and film industry pioneers David Maisel and James Honeyborne, this year’s festival showcases cinema that doesn’t just inform—it transforms.

These are films that awaken depths within ourselves we didn’t know existed,
revealing that our fate and the Ocean’s fate are inextricably intertwined.

Featured Festival Partners

2026 Premiere Trailer

A glimpse into what awaits at the Oceanic Global Film Festival 2026 Screenings — a cinematic journey into stories that awaken new depths of wonder, connection, and transformation.

This year’s festival brings together filmmakers from around the world whose work transcends surface-level awareness, immersing audiences in the beauty, mystery, and interconnectedness of our Blue Planet. Through breathtaking imagery, intimate human experiences, groundbreaking discoveries, and powerful Ocean narratives, these films invite us to feel more deeply, imagine more boldly, and reconnect with the Ocean in entirely new ways.

Global Festival Premieres

Across three iconic cities, the Oceanic Global Film Festival 2026 premieres unite global communities through unforgettable cinematic experiences, meaningful conversation, and shared inspiration. Each premiere offers a unique gathering space to celebrate visionary storytelling, connect with fellow ocean advocates, and experience the festival’s winning films on the big screen.

Global Screening Series

Following the global premiere events across New York, Los Angeles, and London, the 2026 Oceanic Global Short Film Festival Screening Series will return for a second year, expanding the reach of this year’s winning films through curated screenings hosted by hospitality, cultural, and community partners around the world.

As part of the series, Design Hotels™ will return as a featured hospitality partner, supporting screenings across select member properties throughout the global rollout.

For the second year, the Oceanic Global Short Film Festival Screening Series will travel to 15 Design Hotels properties across 11 countries, bringing award-winning films to thoughtfully curated spaces around the world. From coastlines and islands to forests and cities, the series invites guests and local communities to connect through powerful stories that deepen our relationship with the ocean.

Select screenings will extend beyond the films with conversations, panels, and community gatherings inspired by the stories on screen. Donations from the series will directly support Oceanic Global’s mission-led programming and ocean education initiatives.

Attend a screening near you:

Winning Film Awards & Prizes

Grand Jury Prize Presented

Awarded to one overall winning film across the 2026 Oceanic Global Short Film Festival, the Open Water Grand Jury Prize is the festival’s highest distinction, recognizing storytelling that embodies the spirit of Films That Awaken New Depths and moves audiences beyond awareness toward action. The recipient will receive a $6,000 USD prize supporting future environmental and ocean storytelling projects.

2026 Category Winners

One winning film will also be selected within each festival category: Human Connection, Discovery, and Living Systems.

Category winners will receive prizes including a GOT Bag Pro Pack, with additional partner offerings to be announced.

Winners will be officially announced during the festival’s global premiere events taking place across New York, Los Angeles, and London during World Oceans Month 2026.

Explore Past Winners

“Being selected as a winner for my debut short film ‘Peixinho’ at the Oceanic Global Short Film Festival was an absolute honor. Attending the screenings in Brooklyn and London has undeniably been the highlight of my year, truly incredible events where I connected with so many fellow ocean lovers. I eagerly anticipate the festival’s continued growth, empowering countless more emerging filmmakers on their vital journeys.”

– Kaushiik Subramaniam, Winning Filmmaker, Director of Peixinho