Thunder Bay International Film Festival On the Road at the Rogers Theater
Step into a world where cinema meets history at the Thunder Bay International Film Festival, held at the Rogers Theater, proudly listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This iconic venue hosts the first night of the Thunder Bay International Film Festival, featuring a diverse selection of acclaimed ocean and Great Lakes films—from compelling documentaries to thought-provoking narratives.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of cinema, culture, and community in this nationally recognized historic theater.
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:
5 Degrees, 6 Minutes, 7AM, Jeremy Chapman & Veronique Ebers (Germany) 4 min
Kiel University student filmmakers bring us German swimmers who dip into the 41-degree local waters to enjoy the friendly atmosphere, the water, and the early morning sun. On the pier they meet friends and practice a refreshing ritual to enjoy the sun’s golden rays reflecting on the water, to reset, and to wash their worries away.
Thunder Enlightening, Robert Whitney (USA) 14 min
"Thunder Enlightening" chronicles the week-long deployment a team of Special Operations veterans from FORCE BLUE made to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary as part of their nonprofit organization’s "Tour of Duty". It is the story of the work they performed, the people they touched and the collective hope that, together, they might inspire others to help preserve and restore one of America’s national treasures.
Peixinho (Little Fish), Kaushiik Subramaniam (UK) 8 min
Right next door to surfing mecca South Africa, Mozambique is a stark contrast. Most of the inhabitants of Peixinho’s (little fish) village don’t even know how to swim, despite depending on the sea for their livelihoods. Our young hero is determined to change that and restore the fishing economy.
Discover Lake Ontario’s Forgotten Wrecks (From Home), Great Lakes Now (USA) 7 min
Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is home to dozens of long lost shipwrecks. In 2024, the Great Lakes’ newest National Marine Sanctuary hosted its first major expedition to explore these underwater time capsules. Led by expedition leader Jason Fahy and maritime archaeologist Ben Ioset, the team set out to document more than a dozen wrecks, including vessels that had never been seen by humans before.
Ocean Watch - A Story of Deep Sea Exploration, Leo Richards (USA) 40 min
The state-of-the-art research vessel, R/V Falkor (too), is a beacon of modern oceanographic exploration. Equipped with leading-edge technology and an advanced deep-sea robot, it’s your gateway to witnessing the uncharted wonders of Earth’s most enigmatic environment. Experience the thrill of discovery as leading researchers unveil groundbreaking findings from their latest scientific expeditions that are illuminating a world beyond imagination.
Date & Time
Wed, Jan 21, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue Details
Rogers Theater
257 North 3rd Street Rogers City, Michigan 49779
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.
