Three films we’re excited to watch at The Ocean Film Festival 2026
The Ocean Film Festival is back, bringing a new collection of captivating ocean-themed films to venues around the UK this autumn
The Ocean Film Festival shares visually stunning short films that celebrate the ocean from every angle: above the surface, beneath the waves, and deep into the stories that connect us all to the sea.
The festival will be touring small venues from 5 September to 26 November 2026 – or you can watch it from the comfort of your home.
“As we head into our 13th year, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour remains a celebration of the ocean in all its beauty, power and vulnerability,” says the UK tour director Nell Teasdale. “Each film in the 2026 programme will offer something special, whether it’s extraordinary adventure, breathtaking marine life or people dedicating their lives to protecting the sea. We can’t wait to bring this year’s line-up to audiences around the UK.”
We’re particularly excited to watch these three films this year…
THE KELP COLLECTOR
After a career in science, Sandy Webb has found a new passion in retirement: collecting and cataloguing diverse algae species that inhabit the waters near her home. With the precision of a scientist and the eye of an artist, she transforms her discoveries into exquisite pressed-seaweed specimens. The Kelp Collector reveals how Sandy’s dedication to documenting local marine life connects her to the coastal environment she calls home.
STONE BITER: SAVING THE ARCTIC SEA FORESTS
When Italian photographer Ismaele moves to Northern Norway, he dreams of exploring the icy Arctic waters and filming iconic wolffish among lush kelp forests. But beneath the surface, he finds a stark reality: an ocean floor stripped bare, where the once-thriving sea forests have nearly vanished. As he meets people fighting to restore the underwater world, he finds hope – and a powerful call for collective action.
GRANNY GROMMETS
There’s no age limit on enjoying the ocean, and this heartwarming short film proves just that! In surf lingo a ‘grommet’ is a young surfing newbie, but the Granny Grommets – some of whom are in their 80s – are reclaiming the word. Ignoring the looming threat of sharks and concerns of their worried offspring, this joyful group take to the waves every week with their bodyboards
Find your local event. Follow The Ocean Film Festival on Instagram at @oceanfilmfestUK
Jo Tinsley
Jo is the Gear Editor for Outdoor Swimmer and also writes news and features for the website. A keen open water swimmer and long-distance walker, she loves seeking out lakes and lidos close to her home in the Mendip Hills, Somerset. She is the author of The Slow Traveller, editor and founder of independent magazine, Ernest, and has previously tested outdoor clothing and kit for BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC Focus and Ernest Journal.
