JAWS @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
Exclusive Film Society Members-Only Screening
Live Discussion with Wendy Benchley
This is a FREE “member event” event – limit 2 tickets per customer
Join us for a thrilling night beneath the surface…
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, in partnership with National Geographic and Amblin Documentaries, is proud to present an exclusive, members-only preview of JAWS @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, a powerful new documentary that dives deep into the making of a cultural phenomenon and the legacy it sparked for ocean conservation.
This officially authorized, behind-the-scenes documentary uncovers the untold stories of Jaws — from malfunctioning mechanical sharks and stormy seas to the creative genius that forever changed cinema and our collective relationship with sharks.
Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, who has worked closely with Steven Spielberg for over 30 years, and created in collaboration with Wendy Benchley, a renowned ocean advocate and the widow of Jaws author Peter Benchley, this film connects the iconic blockbuster to a new generation of shark lovers, scientists, and ocean conservation champions.
Stick around after the film for a special live conversation with Wendy Benchley, whose tireless work to protect sharks and safeguard our seas has made her a global leader in ocean conservation and marine policy issues. Hear her half-century reflections on Peter’s legacy, the power of film to shape public perception, and how we can all be part of the solution for our ocean’s future.
Suggested Donation per admission: $20
Proceeds go directly to shark research and shark conservation.
Wendy Benchley is a renowned global voice for protecting sharks and safeguarding our seas. As a scuba diver for fifty years, she has witnessed dramatic changes to our ocean’s wildlife and its habitats. This has motivated her vigorous efforts to help shape smarter, stronger environmental and marine policies with government officials, NGOs, and other civic leaders. Wendy co-founded the distinguished Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ to honor her late husband’s legacy and shine a light on the exceptional conservation work that marine scientists, researchers, explorers, and policymakers in the United States and internationally are doing. The Benchley Awards recognize excellence and are known as the ‘Academy Awards for the Ocean.’ Wendy was the 2014 recipient of the International SeaKeepers Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given annually to an individual or an organization that has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to ocean conservation. She was inducted into the Women’s Diving Hall of Fame in 2015, accepted the 2016 Beneath the Sea’ Diver of the Year for Environmentalism’ Award, received the 2017 Pegasus Foundation Wings Award for excellence in animal and habitat protection, and was honored with the Rob Stewart Foundation Lifetime Achievement for Ocean Conservation Award in 2019 and the International Ocean Film Foundation’s ‘Ocean Champion Award’ in 2025.
Based in Washington, D.C., Wendy is actively engaged in the marine policy community and supports many of the world’s leading ocean & environmental philanthropies. As a WildAid Board member, she plays a prominent leadership role. She is actively involved in its highly respected and effective global work to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products, including ivory, rhino horn, pangolin, and shark fins. Additionally, WildAid is committed to building 250 highly effective, well-enforced marine protected areas worldwide. She is a board member of Beneath the Waves, an ocean nonprofit that uses cutting-edge research to advance scientific discovery and catalyze ocean policy. Its focus is on sharks and threatened marine ecosystems. She is also a board member of Blue Frontier, a leading national grassroots group with links to 1,400 ocean organizations. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Wendy worked on many environmental issues as a trustee of the Environmental Defense Fund. She is currently a Trustee on EDF’s Advisory Board. Wendy started her environmental and political career in the ’70s in her home state of New Jersey as a co-founder and Trustee of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. She was elected to the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and was elected as a Princeton Borough Councilwoman for three terms. Among many legislative accomplishments, she worked on smart growth and sustainability issues, played a leading role in bringing a prize-winning downtown development to fruition, and expanded affordable housing.
Wendy was married to Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws and a prominent advocate for ocean conservation through his numerous books, articles, and documentaries about the wonders of ocean life and its many threats.
Wendy and Peter cage diving with great whites for their 40th wedding anniversary.
