The Blue Water Institute (BWI) celebrates UN – World Water Day, March 22nd and promotes San Diego, California as a hub for marine science, naval exploration and an epicenter for environmental storytelling. BWI was founded by Greg Reitman to bridge the world of environmental activism and storytelling. BWI profiles a variety of events including film premieres, educational panels, high-level networking, social gatherings, and culminates with the Blue Water Awards show.

The mission of the Blue Water Film Festival is to encourage attendees to think broadly about how climate change affects planet Earth and think deeply about the universal concerns and actions needed to bring us into balance. 50% of all film selections are non-US productions, helping to fulfill the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film.

BWFF showcases independent film—long, short, narrative and documentary—and animated film and introduces a unique and diverse content focused on environmental storytelling to our audiences. The festival is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives to enlighten audiences, educate, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers, and present inspired entertainment for the sole purpose of the environment.

Save the dates for the 6th Annual Blue Water Film Festival: March 20-23, 2025.

BWFF awards in-kind prizes to filmmakers in goods worth over $50,000 since its inception with the special laptop prize provided by HP plus other essential production accessories from Black Magic Designs, GoPro, LV Optics, FILMic Pro, Lectrosonics, Patagonia, and others.

BWFF also presents numerous awards, including the Global Guardian, Eco Hero, the Aquatic Award as well as Best Vision and Best Produced and more!

Location

Set in Encinitas and surrounding San Diego areas, BWFF’s annual festival coincides with World Water Day and connects an audience of environmental activists, active and retired military, marine science educators, prospective financiers, distributors and eco lovers with rising focus on the next generation of environmental storytellers in the film & music industry. San Diego, rated one of the top 20 cities in the USA, attracts an affluent community of ocean lovers, located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean with easy access to airports, train & trolley stations.

Attendance

BWFF attracts an in-person audience of approximately 5,000 filmmakers, journalists, financial executives, movie lovers, celebrities and San Diego residents, along with an international virtual streaming audience of film enthusiasts from around the world.