The Patterns of the Ocean – Protecting Indonesia’s Manta Rays

In this multi-award-winning documentary, The Jetlagged accompany manta ray researcher Elitza Germanov (Marine Megafauna Foundation) on a field trip in Komodo in Indonesia. Manta ray numbers are declining because their gills have recently become a dubious trend in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Conservation efforts are taking place to protect the gentle ocean giants. They include “Citizen Science” projects to identify individuals by their unique spot patterns on their bellies. The filmmakers document the efforts of scientists and conservationists in Indonesia like Elitza Germanov and Sarah Lewis (Indonesian Manta Project/Manta Trust), who are working tirelessly to save these beautiful animals from extinction.

STREAM THE FULL LENGHT DOCUMENTARY:
vimeo.com/552128077

A W A R D S :

1st Prize – CIMASUB Ciclo Internacional de Cine Submarino de Donostia San Sebastián, Spain 2020
Winner – Best Ocean Film | Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, New York, Oct, 2018 (USA)
Nominee Best Newcomer | Green Screen International Nature Film Festival Eckernförde, Sept 2018 (Germany)
Finalist | Wildlife Vaasa Festival-International Nature Film Festival, Sept 2018 (Finland)
Finalist | Wilderland Film Festival, Dec 2018 (UK)
Semifinalist | Natourale Nature & Tourism Film Festival, Dec 2018 (Germany)
Special Award | 22th International Underwater Film Festival, Belgrade, Serbia, Dec 2018

F E S T I V A L   S C R E E N I N G S :

International Ocean Film Festival San Francisco, – WORLD PREMIERE – March 2018 (USA)
ADEX Singapore, April 2018 (Singapore)
International Wildlife Film Festival Missoula, April 2018 (USA)
Elements International Environmental Film Festival, April 2018 (Canada)
Barents Ecology Film Festival, May 2018 (Russia)
International Nature Film Festival Gödöllö, May 2018 (Hungary)
Finisterra Arrábida Film Art & Tourism Festival, May 2018 (Portugal)
Green Screen International Nature Film Festival Eckernförde, Sept. 2018 (Germany)
Handle Climate Change Film Festival, Shenzhen, Sept. 17 – 21, 2018 (China)
Voices from the Waters International Traveling Film Festival, Oct. 17, 2018 (India)
CineMare Int’l Ocean Film Festival Kiel, Oct. 2018 (Germany)
CineEco International Environmental Film Festival Seia, Oct. 13 – 20, 2018 (Portugal)
11th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, October 22 – 28, 2018 (Malaysia)
Voices from the Waters International Traveling Film Festival, October 2018 (India)
China International Green Film Week, Oct 2018, Beijing (China)
New Earth International Film Festival, Oct 2018, Kraków, (Poland)
Movie Night Tawo Diving | 17 Jan 2019 – Oberursel, Germany
Thunder Bay International Film Festival 2019 | 23-27 Jan 2019 – Alpena, Michigan USA
NatureTrack Film Festival 2019 | 22-24 March 2019 – Los Olivos, CA, USA
SEFF Smaragdni Eco Film Festival 2019 | 21-28 June 2019 – Croatia
CIMASUB Ciclo Internacional de Cine Submarino de Donostia San Sebastián, Spain 2020

Tanjung Luar fishmarket footage with mantas, mobulas and sharks by Steve Woods and Adrienne Gittus Dried manta ray gills footage by Alex Hofford.