Over 50 documentaries and 400 underwater photographs are to be displayed in the Oceanografico´s International Festival of Underwater Pictures
Over 50 documentaries and 400 photographs taken in seas and oceans around the world can be seen in the Oceanografico of the City of Arts and Sciences in the first edition of the International Festival of Underwater Pictures (FIIS) that is to be held from 7th to 11th May.
The FIIS is an initiative in keeping with the Oceanografico’s aims to promote awareness about conservation and respect for the environment. It consists of two categories: video and underwater photography. During the Festival, the Red Sea Auditorium will be showing the 54 chosen documentaries, 13 full-length films and 41 short ones. Over 400 photographs will also be displayed around the premises, from 38 collections and 68 individual shots. There is to be a noteworthy international presence with works from Canada, Belgium, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, Holland and Jordan, among other countries.
In addition, the 3rd edition of the International Underwater Cinema Display, “Cinesub”, an event in which 20 films will be shown that have been awarded prizes in other national and international festivals such as the Festival of Antibes, the Celebrate the Sea Festival, and the Golden Dolphin Festival.
Among the specialists in underwater pictures participating in this gathering and who form part of the jury, there is the director of the prestigious production “Blue Planet”, Andy Byatt. Leandro Blanco, who has over 100 international awards including that of the Royal Photographic Society, will be participating as an honorary member, and then there will be Manu San Félix, the first photographer to win the Gold Diver at the 32nd World Festival of Underwater Pictures in 2005.
As well as the programme of film projections, this meeting also includes a series of conferences and round tables. Within these, in his speech Manu San Felix will be talking about what it is like to take photos of sharks without protection, whereas Andy Byatt and the marine biologist Juan Romero will explain details about the making of the films “Blue Planet” and “Earth”. Other presentations will deal with the role of the oceans in climate change, tourism and sustainable scuba diving, underwater filming, and the audiovisual workshop.
