The Ocean Film Festival World Tour returns in 2025, celebrating 12 years of inspiring stories that promote ocean conservation.

This global event, spanning 14 countries, will tour New Zealand from March, immersing audiences in the sea’s breathtaking beauty and raw power.

The festival has captivated viewers for over a decade with an expertly curated selection of films from independent filmmakers worldwide.

This year’s New Zealand tour promises an extraordinary three-hour cinematic voyage, celebrating our oceans' splendour and fragility through gripping storytelling and mesmerising cinematography.

Festival founder Jemima Robinson said,

“This year, we are especially thrilled to showcase the incredible New Zealand film Turning the Tide."

“It’s an inspiring story of blending Mātauranga Māori with cutting-edge science to revive mussel beds in Ōhiwa Harbour, and it highlights the remarkable efforts of local marine ecologist Kura Paul-Burke and her team.”

Films like this, alongside stories from around the globe, celebrate the ocean’s beauty, fragility, and the passionate people working to protect it.”

The diverse 2025 line-up features exhilarating tales of adventure, conservation, and human connection to the ocean.

Audiences will embark on an emotional journey with Hawaiian photographer and surfer Mike Coots in The Call, discover how surfing empowers Liberian youth in We the Surfers, trace human impact on Alaska’s untamed wilderness in Footprints on Katmai, and be spellbound by the ethereal elegance of Aquaballet.

More than a film event, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour celebrates our planet’s blue heart.

With stunning cinematography and powerful narratives, it fosters a deeper appreciation for the ocean and urges audiences to take action to safeguard this vital ecosystem.

Tickets for the 2025 New Zealand tour are on sale now.

Whether you are a devoted ocean enthusiast, an avid surfer, or simply enchanted by the wonders of the deep, this festival promises an unforgettable cinematic adventure.