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.
Program #7 in Theater 2:
Neah Bay: Restoring Ancestral Waters, Nancy Donnelly (USA) 15 min
For thousands of years Makah Tribal fishermen like Robert Moss have hunted for traditional foods in the waters of Washington's Neah Bay. But today thousands of tons of marine debris literally loom over the Makah Tribe's ancestral waters, threatening to choke the waters that sustained these self-described ocean hunters' families for generations - including a dystopian 3,000-ton piece of concrete-and-steel highway bridge abandoned here decades ago. It's a daily reminder of the potentially toxic waters plaguing this small fishing community. In this story of environmental and social justice, a coalition of motivated individuals and organizations works together in a spectacle of mechanical and human determination to demolish, remove, and recycle the massive decaying highway fragment and abandoned vessels of Neah Bay.
Face to Face, Florian Launette (France) 47 min
In many parts of the world, sharks are often feared as ruthless killers, but the Bahamas declares its waters a “shark sanctuary”— a revolutionary approach. Photographer Rodolphe Guignard ventures into shark territory, diving alongside experts to uncover the truth about these misunderstood creatures. Through stunning close encounters, the film challenges our perceptions and reveals sharks in a new light.
Eating: The Power of Save the Ocean, Julien Challandes (France) 52 min
What if our food could save the ocean? Malaury, a passionate ocean activist, embarks on a journey across France to explore how our food choices affect the ocean’s health. Along the way, she meets innovators creating sustainable solutions that protect the sea. Through their work, Malaury discovers eating responsibly can safeguard the ocean’s future and restore the planet’s vital lifeblood.
Date & Time
Sat, Jan 24, 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.
