"THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INVISIBLE

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The ocean we once believed to be infinite, boundless, and indestructible is showing signs of exhaustion. The place where life on our planet was born has given us so much for so long, selflessly, that we came to believe it was an inexhaustible source of benefits — that we didn’t need to worry about it, that it didn’t need our care. We were wrong.

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The first alarm bells led us to focus on the ocean's great protagonists. We protected whales, cared for dolphins, enforced fishing bans and regulations, and fought to save coral reefs. The task was — and still is — a colossal challenge that has shown that, when action is taken, results follow. But we forgot to think about the fact that all that visible life, all the great creatures of the sea, and all the vital structures that support it, depend on tiny, seemingly insignificant organisms that often escape our attention — and even our sight; vital, essential, yet fragile beings. It is to these creatures that we dedicate this fourth edition of the Wild Oceans FilmFest.

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The Importance of the Invisible shines a light on the small beings that make up plankton, on the bacteria that sustain life on the ocean floor, on the fish and invertebrate larvae that hide in the vastness of the sea, and on the animals and plants that may never catch our eye — but without whose role ocean life would vanish. And with them, we want to share the message that small actions — often as invisible as these tiny beings — play a decisive role in conserving and maintaining the health of our oceans.

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As we stand on the brink of devastating deep-sea mining, with oceans now containing more plastic than fish, in a world with a human population exceeding 8.5 billion — people who feed on marine life and dump the untreated waste of their cities into the sea — small actions, your small but steady contribution, can achieve what once seemed impossible. We are capable. And we want to tell that story.

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This year’s documentaries will show us both the beauty and the threats our seas and oceans face — but also the solutions we can put into practice to preserve and heal them. There is hope, but we need these messages to reach as far as possible.

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And for that, we need you.

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Come to the WOFF. Enjoy the company of filmmakers, scientists, artists, explorers, and athletes who will share their experiences with the ocean. And then go out and spread the word — share the message of the beauty, fragility, threats, and solutions surrounding our oceans. And remember: your attitude, your message, will demonstrate the importance of the invisible".

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Fernando González Sitges, Director of the Festival and the Bioparc Foundation.