Maritime Time: Thunder Bay International Film Festival

Interlochen Public Radio | By Tyler Thompson

Published January 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM EST

Photo: Courtesy of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary — *Photo: Courtesy of the Thunderbay National Marine Sanctuary*

Batten down the hatches, northern Michigan, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s International Film Festival is here.

More than 70 films from right here in Michigan and across the world will show in Rogers City, Alcona and Alpena starting tomorrow through Saturday.

Films are shot in different styles and vary in length. Some are a couple minutes, others are feature length.

Topics span climate change, overfishing and coastal communities along the oceans and Great Lakes.

Stephanie Gandulla is the resource protection coordinator at Thunder Bay.

“One of our favorite things, of course, to recreate in our oceans and Great Lakes," she said. "So there's surfing films, sailing films, diving films. There's really something for everyone.”

Gandulla shared some highlights, like "All Too Clear” a film about invasive mussels and what they’ve done to the Great Lakes ecosystem.

“We've talked about that story before in different documentaries, but the treatment of it in ‘All Too Clear’ is so impressive," she said. "And the filmmaking is really some of the best underwater filmmaking I've seen here in the Great Lakes.”

Other films like "Ripples of Plastic!" will showcase what microplastics are doing to the Great Lakes. Saturday will culminate with a student film contest at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. These films were made by teens in Harbor Springs, Detroit and other places.

Gandulla says the film festival is a chance for viewers to learn and engage with the Great Lakes and oceans.

“You're definitely going to come away with new knowledge, maybe learning about a new species," she said. "Maybe learning about new actions you can take to address some of these issues. We see people leave and they're inspired and empowered, I guess would be a good word.”

Folks gather for screenings at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. Photo: Courtesy of the Thunderbay National Marine Sanctuary — Folks gather for screenings at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. *Photo: Courtesy of the Thunderbay National Marine Sanctuary*

When and where:

Wednesday, January 22, 7 p.m.: Films in Rogers City
Thursday, January 23, 6 p.m.: Films in Harrisville
Friday, January 24, 6 p.m.: Great Lakes Gala and films in Alpena
Saturday, January 25, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Films, Student Shorts Competition, and Filmmakers’ Panel in Alpena
Saturday, January 25, 6 p.m.: Sanctuary Selections Film Competition in Alpena
Sunday, January 26, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Films in Alpena