Call for Short Films: 9th Annual World Whale Film Festival
We are seeking powerful storytelling about our ocean environment. Filmmakers of all backgrounds, ages and skill levels are highly encouraged to participate.
The World Whale Film Festival celebrates powerful short films that ignite ocean awareness and inspire action for a better, bluer future. We are seeking compelling stories that explore ocean conservation, marine wildlife protection, Indigenous ecological knowledge, climate change, environmental stewardship, and bold solutions for a thriving planet.
Over the past years, the festival has seen incredible success, and we look forward to showcasing your work as part of this inspiring global movement.
Join this global movement and help shape the future through film. We look forward to showcasing your voice.
History of the World Whale Film Festival
The World Whale Film Festival, launched in 2017 by Greg and Selket Kaufman of the Pacific Whale Foundation, is an annual event based in Maui, Hawaiʻi, now held each February in celebration of World Whale Day. The festival presents short films that highlight ocean conservation, marine wildlife protection, Indigenous ecological knowledge, environmental stewardship, and related themes that inspire audiences to act. Since 2021, the addition of an online component has allowed a global audience to participate and support PWF’s mission of protecting the ocean through science, advocacy, and storytelling. As Maui’s film community enters a period of transition, the festival is exploring opportunities for collaboration that strengthen its local connections while expanding its reach as a powerful international platform—bridging visual storytelling with tangible conservation impact. Exploring new partnerships, the World Whale Film Festival will continue to focus on uplifting local communities while embracing opportunities that enrich Maui’s and Hawai‘i’s film industry. By cultivating community and culture, we can ensure that our unique stories not only thrive but resonate far beyond our shores—shaping a vibrant, collaborative future for film-making and conservation storytelling.
