Mumbai, 4 April 2026

 

The Ocean Film Festival of India 2026, organized by Ecolfolks in collaboration with National Film Development Corporation(NFDC), is an one-day film festival which is dedicated to ocean conservation. The festival is scheduled on April 5th, 2026, at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo (Mumbai Zoo), where the greenery will transform as a hub of oceanic exploration and awareness. In this collaboration of NFDC, the film festival includes the opening film Deepastambh and a masterclass on the topic "Marine Biodiversity: Life Under Water," which will be conducted by the distinguished speaker Dr. Deepak Apte, a renowned marine ecologist and the prestigious Green Oscar ‘Whitley Award’ recipient. With a career spanning four decades and an incredible 5,000 hours of underwater experience as an Advanced SCUBA diver, Dr. Apte will share the experiences into the complex architecture of coral reefs and the mysterious depths of the ocean. As a researcher and accomplished underwater photographer, he will narrate the story of the silent beauty of marine ecosystems, offering a powerful reminder that the future of our planet is intrinsically linked to the life we protect beneath the waves. 

The festival day begins at 9:00 AM with an official inauguration and welcome ceremony, followed by a couple of screenings including Deepstambha and Humpbacks of Goa. The Masterclass curated by the Department of masterclasses and panel sessions of NFDC is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Following this, the program will continue with a rigorous showcase of conservation films. The festival's first half will be dedicated to the Ocean Film Festival, showcasing films from various genres and discussions.

The venue for the second half will shift from the zoo to the open sea. Beyond the screen, the festival transitions into a tangible maritime experience titled "SAIL for CORALS," to be held from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM at the Aquasail Sailing Lounge near the Gateway of India. This combination of academic insight, cinematic storytelling, and sailing aims to foster a deep connection between the citizens of Mumbai and their marine ecosystem. 

The event will be concluded with "Save My Ocean, Save My Planet" pledge, reinforcing the festival’s mission to transform personal stories into a unified vision for global conservation.

 

* * *

PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee/Darshana Rane

Follow us on social media:@PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai  pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai

(Release ID: 2248963) Visitor Counter : 75