Blue Water Summit: Eco Storytelling for the Environment

The 2026 Blue Water Film Festival is proud to present “Blue Water Summit – Eco Storytelling“, a two-days event with panels and workshops such as Producing Short Content for Social Change, Sustainability: Best Practices in Production Workflow, Filming for Eco Impact, and more. Reserve your spot now.

Summit Schedule

12:00pm

ATHLETES FOR THE OCEANS

Moderator: Ann Dietrich, Ph.D., UMASS Amherst, Blue Water Institute Board Member
Speakers:

• Georgia Scott, Filmmaker, Kuleana 
• Jon Rose, Professional Surfer & Environmentalist
• Lina Taylor, Olympic Volleyball Player
• Scott Jenkins, GreenSports Alliance

Elite athletes are using their platforms, discipline, and global reach to become powerful advocates for ocean protection. This panel brings together athletes and changemakers who translate performance, resilience, and public influence into meaningful environmental action. From reducing plastic pollution and protecting marine habitats to engaging youth and inspiring lifestyle change, the discussion explores how sports and ocean advocacy intersect—and how athletes can drive awareness, policy, and impact far beyond the field of play.

1:15pm

WOMEN OF THE BLUE

Moderator: Kathleen Quinlan, Blue Water Institute Board Member
Speakers:

• Sasha Fairhead, Kuleana
• Madeline Steinberg, The Deep Sea in My Backyard
• Lexi Addison, The Last Fin
• Ines Reinisch, Salt and Water

Exceptionally talented female filmmakers come together to share their perspectives on ocean conservation and environmental storytelling. Through their work, these women illuminate the health of our oceans, the future of endangered species, and the role of creativity in inspiring positive change.

Sponsored by: San Diego Explorers Club

2:30pm

PRODUCING SHORT CONTENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Moderator: Laura Kutnick, Kutnick Foundation
Speakers:

• Serge Dedina, Wildcoast Foundation
• Elise Beers, Braids
• Nicholas Mihm, How to Change the World / Sage
• Greer Fawcett, Clean Up Sayu

Feature-length documentaries are not the only way to inspire change. This panel highlights the power of short-form storytelling—across film, digital, and social platforms—to inform audiences, spark dialogue, and drive environmental action. Filmmakers discuss their short works and how concise, targeted content can mobilize communities and influence behavior at scale.

3:45pm

AN INSIDER'S VIEW INTO THE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD

Moderator: Greg Reitman, Blue Water Institute
Speakers:

• Ana Blanco, International Ocean Film Festival
• Jacques Paisner, Santa Fe International Film Festival
• Karen Palmer, Friday Harbor Film Festival
• Elisabeth Stark, Innsbruck Nature Film Festival

Go behind the scenes of today’s leading environmental and impact-driven film festivals in this candid conversation with festival directors and programmers. Topics include film curation, premieres, audience engagement, funding, and distribution—offering filmmakers rare insight into how festivals shape climate dialogue, elevate emerging voices, and influence culture beyond the screen.