Ocean Film Festival World Tour stuns Geraldton ocean lovers once again with stories of passion and inspiration

Deep blue enthusiasts were treated to an array of the ocean’s best scenes, vibrant hues, and touching stories at the Ocean Film Festival on Saturday night. Held at Queens Park Theatre on March 21 , the annual film spectacle returned for the 13th time and was a sold-out event, attracting people to enjoy a series of short films. Inspiration and passion were the main themes of the night, with an emphasis on the power and influence of the ocean. Film-goers experienced the mind-blowing expedition of The Raftsmen, the passion of The Kelp Collector, and the urgent call to action in Stone Biter: Saving The Arctic Sea Forests. The audience also saw the brave trip to Antarctica by two brothers in Antarctica — Domain One; and were impressed with Taina, featuring a Brazilian professional surfer and her story of resilience and perseverance. A leafy sea dragon also captured the audience with its fascinating exterior, reproduction, and life cycle — the first time the species’ reproduction cycle has been captured on film. Event organiser and host Rob McSporran made the crowd feel welcome and comfortable during the spectacle, and said he always enjoyed bringing the festival to Geraldton. “It is an honour to be back in Geraldton for the 13th Ocean Film Festival, and this year the films might just be my favourite ones yet,” he said. A survey conducted after the event revealed the crowd’s favourite film was The Raftsmen, collated from decades-old footage of 12 men crossing the Pacific Ocean in the 1970s, from Ecuador to Australia, on handmade wooden rafts. Jemima Robinson, founder and CEO of the Ocean Film Festival World Tour, said the six films shown at this year’s event continued the mission to share ocean stories to move, inspire, and connect audiences. “Each film in the 2026 program offers something special — whether it’s extraordinary adventure, breathtaking marine life, the people dedicating their lives to protecting the sea, or a call to action from our audience,” she said. “It’s always incredible to see audiences come out year after year — not just to watch beautiful films, but to feel part of something bigger.”