Thunder Bay International Film Festival On the Road at the Alcona County Library - Harrisville Branch
Join the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona Public Library for an evening of ocean and Great Lakes films! In this cozy, community-centered setting, enjoy a carefully curated selection of films that highlight diverse voices and powerful stories from around the world.
NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary hosts the Thunder Bay International Film Festival in partnership with the International Ocean Film Festival, the premier global platform for ocean literacy and education through independent film.
Featured Films:
Stories from the Blue: Saving Koholā , ONMS (USA), 14 min
Saving Koholā offers a rare and intimate look at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary team who monitors and disentangles humpback whales that migrate to these waters to mate and give birth. Entanglement in marine debris remains a major global threat to marine mammals, often leading to injury, starvation, or death. This film documents the high-stakes work of responding to these incidents, from tracking, approaching, and disentangling whales from dangerous debris. Come along as we follow the response team to capture the urgency, precision, and passion that define this critical conservation work. The film raises public awareness about marine mammal entanglement while honoring the deep cultural and ecological connection Native Hawaiians hold with these migratory giants.
Defend the Deep, Liz Rubin & Richard Charter (USA) 23 min
Filmmakers Liz Rubin and Richard Charter bring us stunning images of deep sea creatures while making compelling reasons to preserve our ocean floors and deep sea ecosystems by halting the new extractive industry practice of deep seabed mining. Ecological and spiritual connections with the deep ocean are highlighted, as well as offering viable solutions to the perceived need to mine rare metals.
Battle of the Blues, Adam Ryokichi Ernster (USA) 26 min
Viewers are taken alongside the majestic blue whales of Southern California. Through breathtaking visuals and compelling storytelling, the film celebrates their awe-inspiring beauty and immense size while examining their troubled history and ongoing challenges. The resilience of these gentle giants and the urgent need for their conservation is highlighted during their seasonal migration and feeding in the crowded Santa Barbara Channel.
Deep Look: A Coral is Born, Rosa Tuiran (USA) 6 min
When the moon, sun and ocean temperatures all align, an underwater “snowstorm” occurs, lasting barely a half hour. Corals put on a massive spawning spectacle by sending a blizzard of tiny white spheres floating up the water column all at once. Corals reproduce by broadcast spawning & cloning. Researchers are trying to replicate this in the lab because climate change and resulting rise of sea temperature are causing reefs to die off.
The Most Historic Mobile Home in Michigan Corey Adkins (USA) 10 min
Everyone has their visions of ‘mobile homes’ but what if the home is over 100 years old? Watch the Great lakes Shipwreck Historical Society's” mini documentary as they move a Motor Lifeboat House from 1923 back to Whitefish Point, historically restore it, then complete it with a new tenant.
Date & Time
Jan 23 - 22, 2026
Venue Details
Alcona County Library - Harrisville Branch
312 West Main Street Harrisville, Michigan 48740
Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Established in 2010 by local community leaders, the Friends of TBNMS is a nonprofit 501(c)3. Its founders envisioned the significant opportunity the sanctuary offered for protecting our Great Lakes and their rich maritime history, hands-on educational experiences for area students, and local economic development. Today, that vision has become a reality with the Friends of TBNMS sharing a close working relationship with the sanctuary staff, playing a critical role in funding the sanctuary’s education programs, community outreach efforts, unique museum experiences, and research.
