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 #4 in Theater 1, which includes the following films:
Gunilda, Tinus Lindström Sailor Tales Production (CAN) 40 min
The Gunilda was a luxurious, Scottish-built steam yacht owned by oil baron William L. Harkness. In August 1911, while cruising Lake Superior near Rossport, Ontario, the yacht ran hard aground on McGarvey Shoal after Harkness allegedly refused to pay for a local pilot. During the subsequent salvage attempt, the vessel pulled free but took on water and sank rapidly. The Gunilda now rests upright in 270 feet of cold, fresh water, resulting in phenomenal preservation. Discovered in 1967, it remains completely intact, complete with its gilded hull and a piano. Jacques Cousteau famously dubbed it "the most beautiful shipwreck in the world.” In 2025, Viking Expeditions began a series of submersible dives in order to begin a long-term monitoring program of the wreck in anticipation of impacts due to climate change in the Great Lakes. This film documents this new research program.
Roots, Danny Schmidt (USA) 12 min
In the Dominican Republic, baseball isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life. But as the game thrives, development threatens the country’s mangroves, which play a vital role in the ecosystem. Meet Ismael Diaz-Tolentino, who leads the “Play for the Mangroves” initiative, merging conservation with the nation’s love for baseball to inspire environmental stewardship and restore balance to the natural world.
The Deep Dive, Nancy Donnelly (USA) 12 min*
The 2025 MATE ROV World Championships are set to unfold at Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, pitting the brightest young minds and their custom-built underwater robots against complex, real-world Great Lakes and ocean challenges. This global competition of engineering skill takes on an unprecedented twist with the local rivalry among members of Alpena's Thomson family, locked in a head-to-head battle to reach the winners’ podium. Family patriarch Bob Thomson serves as mentor for daughter Lydia's high-school team, while daughter Liz mentors the team from the high school where she teaches, and brother Clayton pilots the ROV for his local community-college team. Watch as innovation meets ambition in this high-stakes documentary, where the ultimate prize is not just engineering glory, but family bragging rights. Who will command the winning robot and emerge victorious in this thrilling showdown?
Restoring Northern Michigan Rivers, Jason Whalen and Chris Zuker (USA) 4 min*
From Rugg Pond Dam on the Rapid River in Kalkaska County to the Crystal River in Leelanau County, this film follows the Conservation Resource Alliance’s River Care program and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians as they restore Northern Michigan’s rivers—reconnecting waters, renewing habitats, and honoring cultural ties.
Diving Into Thunder Bay’s Underwater Museum, Great Lakes Now (USA) 9 min*
Hundreds of shipwrecks lie beneath the waves of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. GLN contributor Ian Solomon set out to explore this underwater museum, from hands-on exhibits at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, to a glass-bottom boat tour, and even snorkeling above a sunken ship. Join Ian as he dives into the history and adventure of Thunder Bay!
Protected Waters: Acid Trip, Jennifer Idol & Alex Rose (USA) 16 min*
Protected Waters: Acid Trip explores how rising acidity is reshaping both freshwater and marine ecosystems. Filmed in partnership with scientists in Florida and Michigan, the short film blends underwater imagery with on-site research to reveal how acidification affects coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, and Great Lakes habitats. Through personal field experiences and expert insight, the film shows how changes in water chemistry ripple across entire food webs. Protected Waters: Acid Trip invites viewers to understand what is at stake and why protecting our waters has never mattered more.
Souls, Ian Mun (Singapore) 12 min*
Rarely do you get six world renowned ocean legends in the same room and on the same panel, but suggest a dive trip and they will be on that boat. Inspiring stories from award-winning underwater photographers on their first experience diving into the ocean, changes they have seen in their lifetime, and yet, they remain hopeful for future generations.
*Filmmaker or representative expected for Q&A
Date & Time
Sat, Jan 24, 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Venue Details
Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center THEATER 1
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.
