BLUE WATER AWARDS

2025 Global Guardian Award - Captain Paul Watson

Blue Water Film Festival (BWFF) presented by the Blue Water Institute announces its honorees to Captain Paul Watson with the Global Guardian Award, which is presented to an industry leader whose contributions to the innovation of marine science & entertainment has changed the industry for the better. Captain Paul Watson, a founding member of Greenpeace, left in 1977 to establish the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which he led until 2023 before co-founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation. A master mariner, author, and lifelong environmentalist, he has received numerous honors, including the Amazon Peace Prize (2007) and the Jules Verne Award (2012). Watson continues to his fight for marine conservation through his foundation.

Past honorees include Dr, Maude Barlow (UN Water Activist), Dr. Jane Goodall (Jane Goodall Institute), Yvon Chouinard (Founder, Patagonia), Dr. Sylvia Earle (Queen of the Sea), and Valerie Taylor (Queen of the Sharks). The award will be presented Sunday, March 22nd, at UCSD Park & Market Street.

PAST HONOREES

HONOREES

Each year, Blue Water Film Festival is proud an industry leader whose contributions to the innovation of marine science & entertainment has changed the industry for the better and who has used their voices for positive social change.  We are proud to highlight the accomplishments of these Environmental Champions, as part of our mission to raise the profile of the oceans and the environment.

AWARD WINNING FILMS

BWFF is proud to support filmmakers with a variety of film awards and industry technology prizes.  Check out our award-winning films!

GRAND JURY BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Turtle Walker 

Presented by Tara Malaney 

GRAND JURY BEST SHORT FILM

Wild City 

Presented by Roni Avni

GRAND JURY BEST FEATURE  ANIMATED FILM

Aqua Team Sea Adventure Part II

Presented by Riccardo Mazzoli

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Sounds of the Ocean

Presented by Howard Hall

BEST SCIENCE FILM

Ocean Watch – A Story of Deep Sea Exploration 

Presented by Leo Richards 

PRODUCERS VISION AWARD

Unearth

Presented by Hunter Nolan

DIRECTOR’S VISION AWARD

Turtle Walker 

Presented by Tara Malaney 

PAST WINNERS

GRAND JURY BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

2022 The Witness is A Whale

2021 Playing With Sharks

2020 Story of Plastics

GRAND JURY BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

2022 The Fish & The Flame

2021 Game Changers

2020 Ripple Effect

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

2022 Soul of the Ocean, Howard Hall

2021 Mother of the Sea

PRODUCERS VISION

2022 Cost of Free Water, Amelie Lambert Bouchard and Elodie Pollet

2021 Playing with Sharks, Bettina Dalton

DIRECTOR’S VISION

2022 A Witness is a Whale, Cheryl & Nick Dean

2021 Entangled, David Abel

AUDIENCE

2020 Murder at Sea, Best Short

2020 Fish & Men, Best Feature

OCEAN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AWARD

2021 – NOAA – Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

OCEAN HERO AWARD

2020 Turtle Journey

Trailers

2020

2021

2022

Sing Up