Making Waves with Film: The Blue Water Story

Hey, ocean lovers and film aficionados! Are you ready to dive deep into the world of environmental storytelling? In episode 109 of "Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact," I, Bret Schanzenbach, chat with the visionary Greg Reitman, CEO and founder of the Blue Water Institute.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to start a film festival? Or how a history major turned tech guru finds his true calling in the kelp forests of Catalina Island? Greg shares his incredible journey from tech to the big screen, revealing the behind-the-scenes magic of the Blue Water Film Festival.

We'll explore the festival's commitment to our planet, showcasing films that inspire and provoke action. From the world premiere of "Whale Nation" to the touching story of "Orca: Black, White, and Gold," you'll get a sneak peek at this year's must-see films.

Don't miss out on the fun! We're also giving our Chamber members a special 10% discount code (BWFF10) for festival tickets. Tune in to discover how the Blue Water Film Festival is making waves in San Diego and beyond!

Check out the festival at BWFF.net or BlueWaterFilmFestival.org and join us at venues like the Conrad in La Jolla and the UC San Diego. Remember, it's not just a festival; it's a movement. Let's make a splash together!

Greg Reitman's Bio:
Greg Reitman, CEO & Founder
Blue Water Institute, Inc

Greg Reitman is an American Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Author & Founder of the Blue Water Institute. He has been described by Movie Maker Magazine as “one of the top ten filmmakers producing content that impacts our world.” Greg manages his production company Blue Water Entertainment focusing on environmentally conscious broad-based entertainment. He has written, produced and directed diverse genres of award-winning content for audiences around the world, including for theatrical release with Landmark theaters as well as Lions Gate, Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, GAIA, ZDF, ARTE, PBS, amongst others. His feature film and documentary works include, Crypto, Rooted in Peace, Fuel and Hollywood’s Magical Island – Catalina.

From the USA to Costa Rica to India, environmental activist Greg Reitman has been reinvigorated with a new philanthropic mission. He recently founded the non-profit Blue Water Institute with a commitment to the preservation of the planet through the art of environmental storytelling. The mission of the Blue Water Institute is to encourage attendees to think broadly about how climate change affects planet Earth and think deeply about the universal concerns and actions needed to bring us into balance. 50% of all film selections are non-US productions, helping to fulfill the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film.

Blue Water Institute has steadily built a reputation of taking some of the hardest ecological questions of our time head on. “Our goal is to start a dialogue about the true essence of sustainability, on a global, national and personal basis,” said Reitman. “It makes sense to share the mission in conjunction with the United Nations’ World Water Day, especially here in the State of California.

Greg’s introspective and socially relevant books and films have won the Sundance Audience Award, TNT Award, Impact Doc Award, Pembroke Peace Prize and countless others. He has earned critical acclaim in the LA Times being compared to Michael Moore. His literary work, Rooted in Peace: An Inspiring Story of Finding Peace published by Llewellyn Publications has been acknowledged as national best selling author winning: Best Spiritual Author (Spirituality & Health Magazine); Best Spiritual Real-Life Story (Spirituality & Health Magazine); & Best Memoir (Living Now Book Awards).

Greg received a BA at University of Massachusetts at Amherst.. He’s an active member of the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, The Explorer’s Club, and served as a fellow adjunct Professor at NYU-Tisch.

He currently resides in Del Mar, CA, living a “green lifestyle.”

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