As part of our ongoing partnership with Oceanic Global—a non-profit organization and UN partner that works to inspire global action and catalyze change—we are proud to bring the Oceanic Global Short Film Festival: Design Hotels Screening Series to a range of Design Hotels locations around the globe.
The Oceanic Global Short Film Festival launched in 2020 with the aim of uplifting environmental and ocean storytelling from around the world. This year’s theme, Wonder—also the theme of UN World Oceans Day—explores the awe-inspiring aspects of the oceans, encouraging creative storytelling that underscores our profound connection to nature and highlights the vital role that the ocean plays in sustaining life on Earth. A panel of critically acclaimed judges has been selected to review submissions and select five winning films.
Following the official festival in New York City in April, the winning films will be screened at the Design Hotels members listed below throughout the spring. Many locations will continue the conversation after the screenings in panel discussions, keynote talks, and other post-screening celebrations. At each of these events, a percentage of the proceeds will go to Oceanic Global to fund their work.
Nikos Karaflos, Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
Papaya Playa Project
Memmo Baleeira
Vigilius Mountain Resort
Lea d'Auriol, Founder of Oceanic Global
Date May 15–June 15
Location Fari Islands, Maldives
Date June 8
Location Zakynthos, Greece
Olea All Suite Hotel, a tropical-modernist hotel with sweeping views of the northeast coast of Zakynthos, Greece, is a fitting locale for the series. Hotel guests who reserve dinner at Flow Wine And Dine, which will offer a special, sustainably sourced menu for the occasion, will be invited to join the screening.
Date June 8
Location Belle Mare, Mauritius
SALT of Palmar in Mauritius celebrates nature, flavor, and purpose with a starlit screening. Guests will enjoy seaweed-inspired canapés and zero-waste cocktails infused with local herbs and coastal flavors. It’s their way of honoring the sea and inviting others to feel it, taste it, and love it too.
Date June 10
Location Maastricht, Netherlands
Date June 13- June 15
Location Crete, Greece
Phāea Cretan Malia is hosting a range of activities geared towards children to pair with the screenings, including crafting, group role-play as elements of nature, and a dance game with nature sounds. All events will be held at “The Place.”
Date June 14
Location Quito, Ecuador
Carlota, Ecuador’s first B Corp-certified hotel, will host the screenings alongside a program that includes live music, locally sourced seafood appetizers, and specialty cocktails inspired by the themes in the films.
Date June 14
Location Halkidiki, Greece
Date June 15
Location Vilnius, Lithuania
Screening and dinner. Details coming soon.
Date June 20- June 22
Location California, USA
Screening with signature cocktails.
Date April 22–May 31
Location Peloponnese, Greece
Dexamenes Seaside Hotel is housed in a series of wine silos on Greece’s Ionian Sea. The screening will also take place in one of the hotel’s iconic silos—creating a platform for education, creativity, and meaningful conversation around ocean conservation.
Date May 23– May 25
Location Tulum, Mexico
Papaya Playa Project hosts “Blue Echoes,” a festival that explores water’s cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance through film, art, and immersive experiences. To help guests reconnect with the infinite wonder that is water, the festival includes interactive exhibitions, beach cleanups, gastronomy, live performances, and rituals that connect audiences with the transformative power of water.
Date May 21
Location Lana, Italy
Vigilius Mountain Resort, an eco–friendly hideaway in the Dolomites, is bringing the ocean to the mountains. The films will be screened in the library, followed by an inspirational talk by Daria Habicher, an environmental advocate dedicated to sustainable development and ocean awareness, and a local dinner with biodynamic wines.
Date May 17
Location Sagres, Portugal
This sustainability-focused weekend blends film, ocean conservation, and surf culture. Programming includes film screenings, beach cleanups, expert-led nature walks, art exhibitions, a longboard contest, and discussions on marine sustainability. Special guests and a seaweed-inspired tasting menu continue to honor the ocean.
Date May 6– May 9
Location Jenner, USA
Timber Cove Resort will host multiple screenings as well as a special dinner that celebrates ocean conservation. Each course will be tied to a winning film, with the film being shown prior to each course during the dinner. The screenings are part of a larger festival that aims to foster a deeper connection to marine ecosystems and environmental stewardship.
Date April 24–May 8
Location Mallorca, Spain
To complement the screenings, Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel Port de Sóller will craft a selection of specialty cocktails inspired by the theme. These will be served at the Donkey Bar in the lobby as well as the Pikkini Pool Bar.
Oceanic Global reminds us of humanity’s original role in Earth’s broader ecosystems and guides us in restoring equilibrium to our blue planet. The 501c3 non-profit deepens humanity’s connection to the Ocean as the lifeblood of the Earth, provides tangible solutions for resilience, and creates a blueprint for coexisting in harmony with our natural world.
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