The ocean comes to the big screen. Join us at Salty Cinema as we celebrate stories science, restoration, and community. ✨

Salty Cinema Fall 2025!

Salty Cinema is a nature film festival made by scientists, for the public. It celebrates ocean stories created by local filmmakers, and spotlights expert panelists in research, conservation, and politics. This year's theme is 'Tides of Renewal' - join us we taka a dive into the triumph’s of coastal restoration and recovery.

Doors open at 5:00pm and the program starts at 5:30pm!

FREE but please reserve your spot here.

Join us for a free film screening of Sequoias of the Sea at Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds.

Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction impacting a Northern California town that has lost its kelp forest. It's a deep dive into the lives of fishermen, tribes, scientists, and a community working to restore a habitat devastated by a warming climate.

Kelp forests, found along nearly a quarter of global coastlines, are crucial climate change mitigators, but this species is in trouble. Along the Northern California coast we have lost a striking 95% of these underwater forests. Due to a perfect storm of changing ocean conditions, we are witnessing an ecological disaster in real time. What's happening in the ocean is changing lives on land, bringing fishermen, scientists and tribe members together, to restore this critical ecosystem and build a new blue economy.

This event will feature a panel of ocean experts and opportunities to talk to local ocean conservation organizations.

Reserve your spot.

Join us for a special screening of Sequoias of the Sea with the Orange County Marine Protected Area Council (OCMPAC) and appreciate the giants that tower just below the surface.

Sequoias of the Sea
The story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction impacting a coastal town that has lost its coastal kelp forest. It's a deep dive into the lives of fishermen, tribes, scientists, and a community working to restore a habitat devastated by a warming climate.

The Orange County Marine Protected Area Council (OCMPAC) is the state’s oldest Marine Protected Area (MPA) Collaborative, started in 1999. OCMPAC is a collaboration of city and county officials, institutional representatives, environmental advocates, academic faculty, and nonprofit organization members. 

Doors 6:30pm

Film 7:00pm

We will have a panel including film maker Ana Blanco and other special local guests. Donation based raffle prizes will be announced soon!  Suggested donation $15 - dedicated to “Kelp”

Tickets here.

Special screening for the Western Society of Naturalist meeting in San Diego.

More information here.

Recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Newport Beach Film Festival is one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States. The event brings an internationally curated collection of films and vibrant cultural gatherings to the beautiful Southern California coast. Committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, the Festival celebrates contemporary screen culture and cinematic excellence, engaging the community in compelling conversations with filmmakers and artists.​​

Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction wrought in a California coastal town that’s lost its kelp forest. It’s a deep dive into the lives of a scientist, a commercial fisherman and a community working to restore its coastal resources devastated by a climate disaster.

Get your tickets here.

Celebrate autumn’s beauty at the Fort Ross Harvest Festival, held at Fort Ross State Historic Park. Stroll through the historic orchard to pick apples and pears, sip fresh-pressed juice, and join in on pumpkin carving fun. Enjoy lively music and traditional dance performances, and explore the park’s cultural and natural history through guided tours and interactive talks.

Sequioas of the Sea Screenings:

• 11 am - First showing

• 12 pm - Q&A with sea urchin divers, researchers and the film team

• 1:30 pm - Second showing

More information here.

Recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Newport Beach Film Festival is one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States. The event brings an internationally curated collection of films and vibrant cultural gatherings to the beautiful Southern California coast. Committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, the Festival celebrates contemporary screen culture and cinematic excellence, engaging the community in compelling conversations with filmmakers and artists.​​

Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction wrought in a California coastal town that’s lost its kelp forest. It’s a deep dive into the lives of a scientist, a commercial fisherman and a community working to restore its coastal resources devastated by a climate disaster.

Get your tickets here.

The Eugene Environmental Film Festival (EEFF) believes in creating space and a platform to address and bring light to critical issues facing our planet. They support the work being done at local and global levels and share a deep connection and responsibility to protect the environment and work in solidarity with others in the struggle for environmental justice.

Tickets here!

Join us for Ocean Futures Happy Hour & Film Sequoias of the Sea—an evening of community, conversation, and ocean storytelling.

Bookended by IGNITE22: Global Showcase and the California Seaweed Festival, this event brings together ocean innovators, advocates, and storytellers for a night of ocean sustainability.

​Agenda

• ​6:00–7:00 PM | Networking Mixer – Enjoy ocean-inspired drinks and sustainable bites while connecting with fellow ocean and climate advocates and innovators.

• ​7:00–8:00 PM | Film Screening – Watch Sequoias of the Sea, a 54-minute documentary celebrating the wonder of kelp forests and their role in ocean ecosystems.

• ​8:00–8:30 PM | Panel + Q&A – Hear from filmmakers, scientists, and innovators in a dynamic conversation about seaweed, ocean health, and collective action.

• ​8:30–9:00 PM | Wrap-Up – Continue networking and close out the evening together.

Buy tickets here.

Join Santa Barbara Maritime Museum for a special screening of Sequoias of the Sea, during their upcoming exhibition Redwoods of the Sea: Life in the Channel Islands Kelp Forests featuring the extraordinary photography of renowned naturalist and underwater photographer Ralph A. Clevenger. The exhibition opens on September 11, 2025 and will be on view through January 4, 2026.

Reserve your spot for the film screening Ocotober 8th.

The first North Coast KelpFest! was held from mid-May to mid-June 2024, bringing art, science, food and film together to tell the story of kelp forests on California’s north coast. Through a month long series of events, communities from across Northern California were invited to the Mendocino coast to learn about and celebrate the ocean’s forests, and connect with coastal ecosystems and culture in a meaningful way. The combination of innovative art + science, ocean-oriented and kelp-inspired events hosted through KelpFest! engaged the hearts and minds of people of all ages and ethnicities. These events were designed to contribute to the success of kelp restoration efforts and ultimately create sustained appreciation and stewardship for this ocean ecosystem.

The second North Coast KelpFest! is happening in Mendocino and Fort Bragg October 3-6, 2025.

The Carmel International Film Festival (CIFFest) is where creativity meets community on California’s iconic coast. Originally established in 1929 and reimagined for today’s audiences, CIFFest has become a premier destination for filmmakers, industry leaders, and film lovers. Held in the artistic haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the festival celebrates bold storytelling and visionary talent through powerful screenings, intimate panels, and unforgettable events. From red carpet moments to emerging voices, CIFFest is where the future of film comes to shine.

Buy tickets here.

Bringing the kelp story inland to the historical State Theater in Modesto, CA.

Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction impacting a Northern California town that has lost its kelp forest. It’s a deep dive into the lives of fishermen, tribes, scientists, and a community working to restore a habitat devastated by a warming climate.

Featuring a live post-film Q&A with directors Ana Blanco and Natasha Benjamin.

Tickets here.

The Bolinas Film Festival is a four-day celebratory event that brings to the Bolinas and the West Marin Community innovative and exciting films in the feature, documentary, experimental, and short film categories.
 
The festival joyously weaves in a bounty of local immersion activities, including community gatherings, educational, culinary, and other experiences that delight the senses, celebrate storytelling, and exalt the vitality of the village. 

Join us for a screening of Sequoias of the Sea during the “Local Love” program on Sunday September 21st at 1pm.

The Full Bloom Film Festival is dedicated to bringing quality,  diverse, cinema to Statesville, NC, a multifaceted art-conscious city in  North Carolina.  Just North of Charlotte, there is something for  everyone. FBFF will take place in 2025 from September 11th - 13th in and around Historic Downtown Statesville.

Buy tickets here.

Special screening of Sequoias of the Sea in partnership with the Casper Cove Project in Mendocino.

First, the dive at Caspar Cove:
Start your morning immersed in the underwater world we cherish. Together, we’ll work to remove overabundant purple sea urchins, giving bull kelp a chance to thrive.

Next, the potluck at the Little River Inn – 4:00 PM:
After a day beneath the waves, we’ll gather to share food, stories, and laughter. This is your chance to connect with fellow ocean stewards, celebrate the day’s accomplishments, and recharge before the evening’s highlight.

Finally, the screening of “Sequoias of the Sea” –
7:00–8:00 PM in the Abalone Room at the Little River Inn:
Close the day with a captivating dive of another kind. This documentary takes you deep into the kelp forests of Caspar Cove and Northern California, revealing the environmental and socio-economic impact of their loss, and the remarkable efforts being made to restore them. Meet the filmmakers, hear their stories, and leave inspired by what’s possible when communities come together for the sea.

Seats for the screening are limited, so please RSVP here to reserve your spot:

As the vessel that captures the stories of the ocean and the people, the Korea International Ocean Film Festival (KIOFF) seeks to realize a beautiful coexistence between the ocean and humans through a variety of ocean films that capture all the stories of the ocean, from the ocean’s mysterious grandeur to the pain of the present.