From AI Movies to Antarctic Documentaries, the 18th International Ocean Film Festival Opens

'An existential crisis for humanity, as we ask for answers in the depths of the sea'

It is time to face the weighty questions that the sea throws at us—the cradle of humanity and a vast abyss. The '2026 International Ocean Film Festival', the only ocean-focused film festival in South Korea, will kick off in Busan’s 'Cinematheque Centum' from the 18th for four days. Now entering its 9th year, the festival sets out the philosophical premise 'In front of the sea, we' and aims to offer social and humanistic insight into the coexistence of humans and the marine ecosystem in the age of climate crisis, going beyond a simple celebration of nature. The 47 works invited from 15 countries around the world depict the most urgent existential crisis humanity faces on the canvas of the screen.

Warnings from the depths and a hymn for life: from the Antarctic to the deep sea

Commercial overfishing driven by capitalist greed is leading to the collapse of a vast ecosystem. The documentary 'Solidarity for the Antarctic' and 'Domain One', selected as the opening work, serve as an anthropological report that digs into this chilling truth. Through the crisis facing the Antarctic marine ecosystem, the two works sharply expose how local communities and the entire planet are organically connected. In contrast, the closing film 'There Was Light in the Darkness' follows a deep-sea expedition by a marine biologist, capturing poetically the wonder of life in a pitch-black abyss and the fragility that lies behind it. A narrative stretching between the extremes of destruction and life strongly sparks viewers’ intellectual curiosity.

Breaking the boundaries between technology and nature: the sea as seen through AI

Particularly noteworthy is the launch of the 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ocean Film Section'. In addition to a variety of genre variations such as 'Survival for 13 Hours: An Adventure of the Catshark', the romance fantasy 'Chao', and 'Operation Name: Save the Sea Forest', 11 AI-based films will also be screened, including the contest selection 'A Trip with Mom' and the invited work 'Dream of Atlantis'. This is a historic moment when 'advanced technology' and 'the original form of nature'—seemingly incompatible elements—merge to create a new artistic grammar. Beyond screenings, the festival will also provide a forum for in-depth discourse, including a dialogue with directors (GV) and lectures on the marine environment, offering time for three-dimensional thinking that goes beyond just watching.