Filmmakers
Natasha Benjamin
Natasha is a marine scientist and filmmaker based in Northern California. She has worked in ocean science, conservation and communications for over 20 years. She is a producer for Peabody Award winning Brick City TV. As a diver, surfer and ocean lover who has not only spent her career, but most of her life working and playing in the ocean, she is dedicated to the ocean and working toward a healthy ocean for all.
Natasha is the Media Director at Marine Research & Exploration (MARE) where she works on developing media content on deep-sea research and blue technology. She is also the Associate Director of Blue Frontier, where she works on ocean climate action policy and building a citizen movement toward healthy oceans. Natasha has a B.S. in Marine Biology from Boston University and M.S. in Marine Policy from University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science (RSMAS).
Ana Blanco
Ana is the Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival leading a large group of volunteers to produce a four-day flagship event since 2011. Now the largest ocean film festival in the world, the festival showcases independent films from around the globe, inspiring people to become better ocean stewards. During her tenure Ana created two key pillars of the festival to advance the education of ocean conservation: the Student Film Competition and the Traveling Program.
Ana’s passion for the ocean stems from being an avid sailor and certified scuba diver, as well as having grown up along the Pacific Coast in Lima, Peru. She has served as a jurist on international panels for major film festivals such as JacksonWild, FICMA in Barcelona, Spain, CINEMARE in Kiel, Germany, and Maremostra in Palma, Mallorca. Ana has a B.S. Degree in Economics from the University of Illinois.
Advisory Board
Andrea Torrice, Filmmaker, Torrice Productions
April Bucksbaum, Vice President, Baum Foundation
David Helvarg, Executive Director & Author, Blue Frontier
Jan Freiwald, Executive Director, Reef Check Foundation
Jan Livingston & Marsh Mokhtari, Co-Founders, Grey Whale Gin
Josh 'Bones' Murphy, Filmmaker, Liar and Thieves
Kassia Meador, Founder, KASSIA + SURF
Maria Brown, Superintendent, Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries
Maria Finn, Producer, Writer & Chef, Flora & Fungi Adventures
Marianna Leuschel & Josie Iselin, Co-Directors of Above/Below
Max Bello, Policy Advisor, Mission Blue
Michael Stewart, Co-Founder/Director, Sea Trees & Sustainable Surf
Mike Long, Director, Parley For The Ocean
Sheila Semans, Executive Director, Noyo Center for Marine Science