The Oceanic Global Short Film Festival launched in 2020 with the aim of uplifting environmental and ocean storytelling from around the world. Oceanic Global Hubs will be hosting a third edition of the Short Film Festival in New York City during Earth Month (April) 2025 and Satellite Screening Events.
Building on the success of past events, this year’s programming will broaden our festival’s impact through multiple formats to enhance environmental storytelling & engage diverse audiences globally. Leading up to the 2025 Festival, events will bring together a panel of critically acclaimed judges to review submissions and select a set of the winning films for this year’s edition.
This year’s theme, Wonder, will explore the awe-inspiring aspects of our blue planet, encouraging creative storytelling that underscores our profound connection to nature and highlights the vital role that water plays as a sustaining life.
In this exploration, we seek to foster creative storytelling and knowledge sharing surrounding the many wonders of water. The theme encourages diverse interpretations ranging from: new scientific discoveries and water’s significance in maintaining ecosystems and supporting all beings, to ancient wisdom and the intrinsic relationship between water and well-being.
The top three films from the London Screening Event were chosen as finalists by our esteemed panel of expert jurors for the 2022 Oceanic Global Short Film Festival. In 2020, jurors also chose the top four films to be featured as finalists. Explore the final films from both years below, and stay tuned for the 2025 winners.
The 2025 event will bring together a panel of critically acclaimed judges to review submissions and select a set of winning films.
Award-Winning Filmmaker
Film Director & Producer
Filmmaker, Photographer & Author
Photographer, Storyteller & Creative Visionary
Submissions for the 2025 Oceanic Global Short Film Festival are now open! Click here to submit your film.
Films should be between 5-15 minutes.
Film should connect to the theme “Wonder”
Films must full under one of the following categories:
– Narrative Short/Poetic Storytelling
-Scientific/Practical Short
The festival will be taking place in New York City during Earth Month in April 2025.
Anyone! As long as you follow our criteria for submissions we encourage filmmakers of all backgrounds and skill levels to submit their work.
Standard Submission: $25
Student Submission: $20
Submission fees go to Oceanic Global to support our programs and Regional Volunteer Hubs. If you would like to request the fee for submission be waived, please email gina@oceanic.global for more information.
Final prizes to be confirmed, but previous Short Film Festival prizes included:
The Oceanic Global Film Festival screening is open to the public, and you don’t need to be a climate expert or ocean advocate to enjoy the films in the festival!
The Oceanic Global Film Festival is run by our Hubs, our regional volunteer-based extensions of the Oceanic Global team, designed to drive localized impact on a global scale.
With assistance from the Oceanic Global team, the Hubs ideate, plan, and produce the festival and screening event.
Oceanic Global is hosting an in-person film screening, in NYC surrounding Earth Month 2025. The screening will feature the top 5 films selected as the 2025 Short Film Festival winners, as well as a panel discussion (TBD).
Oceanic Global is excited to host a global series of satellite screenings for the 2025 Short Film Festival.
Sign up to receive our comprehensive toolkit, which includes all the essential information about the films and program, along with guidance on organizing your own festival. If you’re interested in hosting a screening event, please contact Gina Jurlando to express your interest.
In partnership with Marketplace of the Future, Oceanic Global hosted a Filmmaker Workshop during NYC Climate Week 2024. The event featured discussions on climate-related filmmaking, and offered insights from respected filmmakers, directors, and producers on breaking barriers, securing resources, and navigating the industry. Attendees were also given the opportunity to record a short video detailing their work as climate filmmakers and/or their specific projects.
The 2025 event will be co-produced and supported by key members of Oceanic Global’s Volunteer Hubs.
NYC Hub, Co-Chair
NY Hub, Co-Chair
NY Hub, Steering Committee Member
London Hub, Committee Member
Join the Oceanic Global community to receive news invitations to upcoming events.