media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

International Ocean Film Festival “Seas the Night” Fall Benefit for the Festival’s Student Education Program

Thursday, November 8: 5:30pm – 10pm @ Gallery 308 / Fort Mason Center for the Arts & Culture

Dr. Jeff Boehm, Executive Director of The Marine Mammal Center to Receive “Ocean Champion” Award

16th Annual Festival runs March 7 – 10, 2019

www.intloceanfilmfest.org

2 November 2018 – San Francisco, CA: To the Romans, the Mediterranean was Mare Nostrum – “Our Sea.” And while their other Latin motto, Carpe Diem may have meant “Seize the Day”, the ocean – as we know all too well – belongs to all of us: a shared responsibility highlighted by the work of the San Francisco based International Ocean Film Festival.  Thursday, November 8, the acclaimed nonprofit committed to “Saving the Oceans One Film at a Time” will “Seas the Night” – their fall fundraiser benefiting the Festival’s student education programs. Taking place at Gallery 308 in the Fort Mason Center for the Arts & Culture (2 Marina Blvd. San Francisco), the evening features fine wine, sustainable seafood stations provided by Waterbar, Fog Harbor Fish House and The Grotto in addition to a live auction, sneak previews of the films from the upcoming 2019 festival and music by DJ Ryan Mannix. Also honored that night will be this year’s “Ocean Champion”, The Marine Mammal Center’s Executive Director Dr. Jeff Boehm. Individual tickets start at $ 150 and can be purchased online at www.intloceanfilmfest.org. 

“Perhaps no organization has done more to call to the forefront the shared heritage between humans on land and our warm-blooded siblings in the ocean than The Marine Mammal Center,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival.  “For 28 years as a volunteer and for the last decade as its leader, Dr. Jeff Boehm has and continues to be the definition of ‘an ocean champion.’ ”

Dr. Jeff Boehm joined The Marine Mammal Center as its Executive Director in 2008. He was formerly the Senior Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation Science at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where he worked for 16 years. There, he oversaw the veterinary medical program and led and coordinated the aquarium’s conservation science division, including conservation partnerships, in-house programs, and educational and advocacy programs and partnerships.

Dr. Boehm traces his career path back to a volunteer position he held at the Center back in 1980. As is the case for many current volunteers (there are more than 1,200 on the Center’s roster) or staff members, the Center experience influenced him greatly. For him, the opportunity to work with incredible wildlife in the context of conservation inspired him to pursue a nontraditional route in veterinary medicine and led him, ultimately, back to The Marine Mammal Center.

Dr. Boehm received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego and his veterinary medical degree from the University of California at Davis. He is a diplomat of the American College of Animal Welfare.

“The International Ocean Film Festival is dedicated to using film as a medium to increase public awareness of the environmental, social, and cultural importance of marine ecosystems and foster a spirit of ocean stewardship,” said Blanco. “Commonly referred to as the ‘Sundance of the ocean film festivals,’ We are now in our 16^th year as the premier ocean event in North America for ocean-related films. The Seas the Night gala raises funds to allow us to reach middle school and high school students through special daytime programs with film screenings and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, marine scientist, and industry experts.”

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 50 films from 15 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Sponsors for the 16^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival thus far include BigBus, the Port of San Francisco, and the Parker Foundation

The 16th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place March 7 – 10, 2019 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Dezart Performs Wins Unprecedented 11 Desert Stars Awards:
The most ever for the Palm Springs Company

Honors Given Out at 31^st Annual Desert Theatre League Gala on Sunday, October 14 included “Best Production” Awards in both Comedy and Drama

Dezart Performs Opens 11^th Season on November 9 with “Church & State”

15 October 2018 – Palm Springs, CA: In baseball, it might be called a home run. In politics, it would be wave. Whatever analogy is used, it was an unprecedented evening for the acclaimed Dezart Performs. The Palm Springs ensemble took home 11 “Desert Stars Awards” at last night’s 31^st annual Desert Theatre League Gala held in Palm Desert, having been nominated for 23 awards in 19 categories.  The tally was a record for the company and included “Best Production” honors in both comedy and drama and also two awards for the group’s founding artistic director, Michael Shaw: one for acting, and one for directing.

“Wow – what an evening,” enthused Shaw. “Obviously, we were thrilled at our awards, and so proud of the talent on-stage, backstage and front of house that led to them.”

Shaw, noted, however, that amidst the celebration there was an air of melancholy as Scott Smith, who won best director accolades for Rabbit Hole, passed away unexpectedly this past March 1, just six weeks after the show closed.

“Everyone was there last night except Scott, our director and my dear friend,” Shaw noted. “And, while we certainly felt his loss, it was good to be there together supporting each other and to lift Scott up.”

Dezart Performs will open its 11^th season with “a serious comedy, honest to God,” Church & State, November 9 – 18, at the Pearl McManus Theater (at the historic Palm Springs Woman’s Club / 314 S Cahuilla Road, Downtown Palm Springs). Directed by Shaw, the play by Jason Odell Williams chronicles the reelection bid for a Republican U.S. senator and his surprising revelation on “the Twitter” that calls into question his office, his marriage and his sense of morality.

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.

Sponsors of Dezart Performs’ 2018/2019 Season include The Riviera Palm Springs, Desert Care Network, Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge, Acqua at the River, TRIO Restaurant and the Desert Sun.

Below is the complete list of wins for Dezart Performs.

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama — Phylicia Mason for “Rabbit Hole”
• Outstanding Sound Design (professional) — Clark Dugger for “Rabbit Hole”
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama — Jonathan Hatsios for “Rabbit Hole”
  (a tie with Bob Harrison in “The Bad Seed” at Palm Canyon Theatre )
• The Ron Hamm Award for Outstanding Hair & Makeup Design (professional) — James Geier & Timothy McIntosh for “The Legend of Georgia McBride”
• Outstanding Director Comedy (professional) — Michael Shaw for “The Legend of Georgia McBride”
• The Michael Cruickshank Award for Outstanding Director Drama — Scott Smith for “Rabbit Hole”
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy — Theresa Jewett for “Motherhood Out Loud”
  (a tie with Melanie Blue for “Fifth of July” by Desert Rose Productions, Inc.)
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (professional) — Yo Younger for “Rabbit Hole”
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama (professional) — Michael Shaw, “Rabbit Hole”
  (a tie with Sean Smith for “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?” from Coachella Valley Repertory)
• Outstanding Production Comedy — “The Legend of Georgia McBride”
• Outstanding Production Drama — “Rabbit Hole”

The Dezart Performs team gathers at the Desert Theatre League “Desert Stars” Awards Gala on October 14, 2018
Back row (L-R): Clark Dugger, Timothy McIntosh, Leanna Rodgers, Melanie Blue, Michael Shaw, Suzanne Gomez, Gailya Brown, Deborah Harmon, Yo Younger.
Front row (L-R:) Cicely Gargaro, Disereé Clarke, Theresa Jewett

Exploring Orvieto:

Watercolor Sketching in the Perfect Italian Hill Town

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com 

International Ocean Film Festival “Seas the Night” Fall Benefit for the Festival’s Student Education Program

Thursday, November 8: 5:30pm – 10pm @ Gallery 308 / Fort Mason Center for the Arts & Culture

Tickets on sale September 27 

Dr. Jeff Boehm, Executive Director of The Marine Mammal Center to Receive “Ocean Champion” Award

16th Annual Festival runs March 7 – 10, 2019

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

17 September 2018 – San Francisco, CA: To the Romans, the Mediterranean was Mare Nostrum – “Our Sea.” And while their other Latin motto, Carpe Diem may have meant “Seize the Day”, the ocean – as we know all too well – belongs to all of us: a shared responsibility highlighted by the work of the San Francisco based International Ocean Film Festival.  Thursday, November 8, the acclaimed nonprofit committed to “Saving the Oceans One Film at a Time” will “Seas the Night” – their fall fundraiser benefiting the Festival’s student education programs. Taking place at Gallery 308 in the Fort Mason Center for the Arts & Culture (2 Marina Blvd. San Francisco), the evening features fine wine, sustainable seafood stations provided by Waterbar, Fog Harbor Fish House and The Grotto in addition to a live auction, sneak previews of the films from the upcoming 2019 festival and music by DJ Ryan Mannix. Also honored that night will be this year’s “Ocean Champion”, The Marine Mammal Center’s Executive Director Dr. Jeff Boehm.  Individual tickets start at $ 150 and can be purchased online starting Thursday, September 27 at www.intloceanfilmfest.org.  

“Perhaps no organization has done more to call to the forefront the shared heritage between humans on land and our warm-blooded siblings in the ocean than The Marine Mammal Center,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival.  “For 28 years as a volunteer and for the last decade as its leader, Dr. Jeff Boehm has and continues to be the definition of ‘an ocean champion.’ ”

Dr. Jeff Boehm joined The Marine Mammal Center as its Executive Director in 2008. He was formerly the Senior Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation Science at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where he worked for 16 years. There, he oversaw the veterinary medical program and led and coordinated the aquarium’s conservation science division, including conservation partnerships, in-house programs, and educational and advocacy programs and partnerships.

Dr. Boehm traces his career path back to a volunteer position he held at the Center back in 1980. As is the case for many current volunteers (there are more than 1,200 on the Center’s roster) or staff members, the Center experience influenced him greatly. For him, the opportunity to work with incredible wildlife in the context of conservation inspired him to pursue a nontraditional route in veterinary medicine and led him, ultimately, back to The Marine Mammal Center.

Dr. Boehm received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego and his veterinary medical degree from the University of California at Davis. He is a diplomat of the American College of Animal Welfare.

“The International Ocean Film Festival is dedicated to using film as a medium to increase public awareness of the environmental, social, and cultural importance of marine ecosystems and foster a spirit of ocean stewardship,” said Blanco. “Commonly referred to as the ‘Sundance of the ocean film festivals,’ We are now in our 16^th year as the premier ocean event in North America for ocean-related films. The Seas the Night gala raises funds to allow us to reach middle school and high school students through special daytime programs with film screenings and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, marine scientist, and industry experts.”

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 50 films from 15 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Sponsors for the 16^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival thus far include BigBus, the Port of San Francisco, and the Parker Foundation

The 16th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place March 7 – 10, 2019 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.