Join the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center for a day of ocean and Great Lakes Films.
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.
This ticket is for Program #14 in Theater 2:
Deep Look: Watch this Starfish Protect her Babies from Danger, Josh Cassidy (USA) 5 min
This stunning short with breathtaking images centers on the unique six-rayed sea stars’ (most sea stars only have five arms) roles as mothers. They live in Northern California’s intertidal zone, but unlike other species, these starfish stay and ‘hide’ their babies for a long time, going to the extent of not eating for three months, until their offspring are ready to go out on their own.
Sequoias of the Sea, Natasha Benjamin & Ana Blanco (USA) 54 min
Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction wrought in a California coastal town that has lost its kelp forest. It’s a deep dive into the lives of a scientist, a commercial fisherman and a community working to restore its coastal resources devastated by the primary cause: climate disaster.
The Big Sea, Lewis Arnold & Chris Nelson (UK) 75 min
A play on words, the subject of this highly anticipated U.S. premiere speaks to the surfer’s love for the ocean while exposing potentially deadly consequences for those living in close proximity to the manufacturing plants that produce neoprene-based wetsuits. Even before catching the best waves, surfers carefully select their essential gear to keep them warm, but at what cost? Here’s your chance to find out.
Date & Time
Sun, Jan 25, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Venue Details
Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center THEATER 2
500 West Fletcher Street Alpena, Michigan 49707
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.
