Followed by a discussion with the filmmakers Natasha Benjamin and Ana Blanco
SEQUOIAS OF THE SEA tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction impacting a coastal town that has lost its coastal kelp forest. It’s a deep dive into the lives of fishermen, tribes, scientists, and a community working to restore a habitat devastated by a warming climate.
“This beautifully shot and masterfully told story is a wake-up call, revealing the urgent crisis of disappearing kelp forests in Fort Bragg—part of a larger global issue that affects us all.“ — Vicki Abeles
SEAWEED, A LOVE STORY follows Dr. Nicole Miller—founder of Explore Your Coast, diver, and seaweed advocate—as she undertakes an ambitious 70 km underwater survey of Wellington’s coastline. With over 800 hours spent on SCUBA, Nicole documents the beauty of local kelp forests while revealing the stark challenges they face due to overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Through photography, art, and immersive VR, the film highlights her mission to protect these vital underwater habitats—essential to life both beneath and above the waves.
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Natasha Benjamin, Co-Director/Producer and Cinematographer
Natasha Benjamin, a marine scientist and filmmaker based in Northern California, has dedicated over 20 years to ocean science, conservation, and sharing the wonders of the deep. A diver, surfer, and lifelong ocean enthusiast, she has spent her career not just studying but also experiencing the beauty and challenges facing our marine world.
Natasha is the Associate Director at Blue Frontier, and she works to influence ocean climate action policy and inspire a citizen movement for ocean health. She is also working on a film about the devastating kelp loss in Northern California, and produces films for award-winning Brick City TV, bringing ocean issues to the forefront. Previously as Policy & Outreach Director at Marine Applied Research & Exploration, she spearheaded initiatives focused on deep-sea exploration and marine protected areas (MPAs). Natasha holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from Boston University and an M.S. in Marine Policy from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.
Ana Blanco, Executive Producer, Co-Director/Producer
Ana is the Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival leading a large group of volunteers to produce a four-day flagship event since 2011. Now the largest ocean film festival in the world, the festival showcases independent films from around the globe, inspiring people to become better ocean stewards. During her tenure Ana created two key pillars of the festival to advance the education of ocean conservation: the Student Film Competition and the Traveling Program.
Ana’s passion for the ocean stems from being an avid sailor and certified scuba diver, as well as having grown up along the Pacific Coast in Lima, Peru. She has served as a jurist on international panels for major film festivals such as JacksonWild, FICMA in Barcelona, Spain, CINEMARE in Kiel, Germany, and Maremostra in Palma, Mallorca. Ana has a B.S. Degree in Economics from the University of Illinois.
