The Coastal Media Project 2023 student film premiere

841

Catching waves and biting boards, Sea Otter 841 has captured the attention of citizens, scientists, and journalists around the world. While she continues to evade capture, the media frenzy has raised the question: what should we do about this unruly otter?

Crew: Logan Asperin, Lauren Barley, Rachel Burnett, Vince Cuenco, and Macielle Villasenor

Sand Symphony

Sand Symphony explores an overlooked part of the coast through an artistic guise. The film follows sand connoisseur Tim Rudnick and sand sculptor Tony Cheatom as they highlight the importance of sand for themselves, others, and the environment.

Crew: Makena Inghram, Nigel Emmanuel Suarez, Pablo Van Dyck, and Paris Eve Saray

Stranded

In the summer of 2023, there were over 1000 reports of sick or dead sea lions and dolphins washing up on shorelines from Santa Barbara all the way down to San Diego. The cause? Domoic acid: a neurotoxin released during harmful algal blooms. This film explores rehabilitation efforts during this event, and urges you to become an advocate for marine mammal conservation in your local community.

Crew: Lauryn Cummins, Rebecca Lantier, Kiera Feighan, Kenzie Goan, and Sidney Cullinan

The Salt on Our Skin

The ebb and flow of waves has always been a source of energy for ocean communities and cultures. From time immemorial, the rich coastal environment has fostered diversity of people and nature. It has been a place of joy, gathering, and reflection. However, local barriers have deterred or prevented the gathering of many groups in southern California. The Salt on Our Skin explores parallel connections between several communities on our coast as they own and reclaim their narrative to carve a space across the channel, on shore, or in the deep sea.

Crew: Audrey Engelsgjerd, Tess McCormick, Lukas Olesinski, Alessandra Puig-Santana, Reese Raygoza, and Michelle Truong