Waimea Ocean Film Festival is by invitation. Only 10-15% of films screened are selected, making “Official Selection” an award in itself and setting the bar high for the individual film awards. With the exception of the Audience Choice and the Director’s Choice awards, films are eligible to receive one individual film award. In a few cases and when films within a given category are substantially different in nature, the award will be shared between two films.

Congratulations to the 2018 Waimea Ocean Film Festival Award-Winners.

2018 Waimea Ocean Film Festival Awards

Best Film – Waimea Audience Choice: Chasing Coral
Best Film – Director’s Choice: David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef – Builders

Best Film – Surf: The Big Wave Project
Best Film – Ocean Environment: David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef Series
Best Film – Ocean Experience: Endless Winter ll and Nervous Laughter
Best Film – Island Culture: The Last ʻŌpelu Man
Best Film – Thought Provoking: Mind of a Giant
Best Film – Adventure: The Ocean Rider and Into Twin Galaxies
Best Film – Edge of Seat: The Last Animals
Best Film – Storyline and Production: The Farthest
Best Film – Cinematography: Wild Ireland
Best Film – Wildlife: BBC’s Planet Earth ll – Grasslands
Best Film – Inspiration: Le Ride
Best Film – Short: Danny MacAskill’s Wee Day Out 
Best Film – Children’s: Andy’s Prehistoric Adventure

Bud Browne Surf Film Award: The Great Highway
Rob Stewart Award for Best Film – Ocean Conservation: Tales by Light – Misunderstood Predators and Eric Cheng