The festival and its festivities were held between March 21-24 in venues throughout San Diego, showcasing featured films, receptions, luncheons, after-parties, and award ceremonies. 

Fifty-percent of all film selections were non-US productions, helping to fulfill the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film. The festival profiled a variety of events including film premieres and screenings, educational panels, high-level networking, social gatherings, and culminated with the Blue Water Awards Show.

The year round Blue Water Institute's purpose is to innovate for water and ocean based solutions and to develop the next set of environmental filmmakers for industry change. 

Blue Water Film Institute is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of the planet and the need to nurture the next generation of environmental filmmakers. The Institute is driven by its environmental programs that discover, innovate and support the next generation of environmental filmmakers from all over the world. 

Photography by Travis Land