15th Annual “Off the Reef” Gala Benefits International Ocean Film Festival
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15th Annual “Off the Reef” Gala Benefits International Ocean Film Festival
Saturday, February 10 @ The Pearl, San Francisco
Tickets on sale today: Monday, December 11
Academy Award Winner Louie Psihoyos to Receive “Ocean Champion” Award
15th Annual Festival runs March 8 – 12
11 December 2017 – San Francisco, CA: As parties go, this one will be off the hook. More to the point, it will be OFF THE REEF: the 15th annual gala fundraiser benefiting the San Francisco based International Ocean Film Festival. Taking place at on Saturday, February 10 at The Pearl (601 19th Street, San Francisco), the evening will feature food, fine wine and a silent auction: 5:30pm – 7pm cocktail reception; 7pm-9pm dinner and program; 9pm ‘til 10:30pm music by DJ Bryce. Highlighted during the evening will be previews of the Festival’s upcoming films and remarks by this year’s “Ocean Champion” honoree, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos. Individual tickets are $ 250 and can be purchased online starting Monday, December 11 at www.oceanfilmfest.org.
“Every year fellow ocean-loving land-dwellers, filmmakers, and environmental luminaries gather to celebrate the International Ocean Film Festival at its Off the Reef Gala” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival, describing attire for the evening as “hipster cocktail” with awards given for the most unique sneakers. “We all love our oceans and need to protect them. With concerted effort and passionate people, we can bring about significant change. That begins with each of us, and especially with the next generation. I cannot think of no more inspirational person in this realm than Louie Psihoyos.”
Louis Psihoyos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louie_Psihoyos) Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society, is the Academy Award®-winning director of The Cove and Racing Extinction. He is also the visionary force behind the unprecedented large-scale projections on the United Nations Headquarters, the Empire State Building, and St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Previously a National Geographic filmmaker for 17 years, Psihoyos uses the power of imagery to convey complex ideas with the ambitious goal of changing the world.
“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 15th year as the premier ocean event in North America for ocean-related films.”
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 15th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, the Canadian Consulate of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Alcatraz Cruises, San Francisco Magazine, and Hotel Zephyr, Official Hotel Sponsor for the Festival.
The 15th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place March 8 – 12, 2018 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.