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 #6 in Theater 1
Salt Free Stoke, Zach Irving (USA) 15 min*
This film follows Josh Weisfeld, surf enthusiast and board shaper, who relocated from Lahaina, Hawaii to Alpena, Michigan after the devastating wildfires in 2023. From the ashes, Josh was able to rebuild his business and keep the “Stoke” in the fresh waters of the Great Lakes, even starting the first ever Thunder Bay Surf Club!
Comfort in the Chaos, Gianni Lauddadio (USA) 12 min*
Surf Lake Michigan with Gianni and crew in this Great Lakes surf film that offers epic waves and new views of our beloved Great Lakes.
Rust Belt Surf’s Untitled Trip #1, Pat Noyes (USA) 2 min* A Postmodern video poem to the Great Lakes from above and below the surface.
Rust Belt Surf’s The Gnarnicles of Chronia Joint #11, Pat Noyes (USA) 10 min* While most Chicagoans are oblivious to the surfable waves on their piece of Lake Michigan Shoreline a few are dedicated Surfers. Rust Belt Ride Waves, Rust Belt Surf is proud to have partnered with Chicago based Surfer/Filmmaker Pat Noyes who has painstakingly chronicled the surfing opportunities presented to the average Chicagoan surfer and supplemented it with footage of interviews from his friends to share with you some of their story. A series 8 years in the making, this is part 11. Look for more of Pat's work in the series "Reports from the Rust Bus" on the Rust Belt Ride Waves, Rust Belt Surf YouTube Channel.
In Waves: 20 Years with Sleeping Bear Surf , Mike King (USA) 4 min*
‘In Waves’ gives us a glimpse into the joy that has cultivated a culture of Great Lakes connection. In 2004, Beryl Skrocki founded Sleeping Bear Surf with a dream of sharing the potential for freshwater play. Now, 20 years later, her legacy lives on.
Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale, Aaron Schillinger (USA) 79 min *
A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved "Boblo Boat" from the scrapyard in this documentary interweaving history with mythology.
Livestream Discovery: Unearthing a Ghost Shipwreck of Lake Ontario, Nancy Donnelly (USA) 3 min*
Witness the moment a 150-year-old secret was unveiled from the dark depths of Lake Ontario's newest marine sanctuary. This short video chronicles the historic expedition that used cutting-edge ROV technology to live-stream one shipwreck's first exploration, revealing a stunning 3D model while connecting thousands of viewers to maritime history in real time.
*Filmmaker or representative expected for Q&A
Date & Time
Sat, Jan 24, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 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.
