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Big Blue Film Fest
See you next year!
January 22-23, 2027
Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy a weekend full of beautiful and inspiring films! It's wonderful to see our community come together around our shared love of the ocean and marine science.
The 2026 festival showcased vibrant ocean storytelling. Audiences were treated to 37 thought-provoking and inspiring films, connect with over 10 visiting filmmakers from across the country, and engaged in meaningful conversations with scientist panelists.
The audience has voted
The winner of the Big Blue Film Fest 2026 People's Choice Award goes to Restoring Roots by Luke Rollins.
This film documents the planning, prototyping, pylon-driving, planting and patience that went into creating the National Aquarium's first free outdoor exhibit, which is also the first floating wetland of its kind anywhere in the world. And really, the grand opening wasn't the culmination of Harbor Wetland at all; it was just the beginning.
Our Mission
Our festival's goal is to showcase ocean-themed films at the confluence of marine sciences, humanities and the arts. We also aim to engage the community and raise awareness about marine issues and how we might solve them.
We strive to inspire, educate and captivate our audience members with science and ocean entertainment. These films tell stories that shape our future understanding of one of our planet’s most important resources.
The Big Blue Film Fest is hosted at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center, which has operated in Newport, Oregon, for 59 years. Hatfield is dedicated to education and exploration with classes, internships, top-quality research and meaningful community outreach.
Community Partners
We are delighted to announce that we will continue our partnership with the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts and the Newport Performing Arts Center, which will again be a co-host location for this year's festival.
Additionally, Hallmark Resort Newport and The Allred are partnering with Big Blue Film Fest to offer 20% off their best available rate for stays from January 22 - 26, 2026. Both properties can be booked using promo code BIGBLUE26. For Hallmark Resort Newport, call 866-362-2476. For The Allred, call 877-496-9002. The friendly reservation agents will help you decide which property best suits your needs and budget.