media contact:
DP&A, Inc / David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Awards Announced for
20th Annual International Ocean Film Festival 

8 Films Cited in Categories including Conservation, Ocean Sports,
Female Filmmaker and Diversity & Equity & Inclusion

Festival Runs April 13 – 16 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre Fort Mason
and the Smith Theatre San Rafael

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

23 March 2023  – San Francisco, CA:  the 20th Annual International Ocean Film Festival has announced this year’s award winners in categories including Conservation, Ocean Sports, Female Filmmaker and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.  The 20^th annual Festival runs April 13 – 16 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason and San Rafael’s Smith Theatre.  All told, there are 42 films representing 17 countries. Tickets to the entire festival are on sale online www.intloceanfilmfest.org

“All of our films and filmmakers are standouts and advance our mission of saving our oceans through the beauty and education of the visual medium,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the Festival. “In a field of exceptional quality and diversity, especially this year, we have eight standouts deserving of special recognition.”

This year’s 20th Annual International Ocean Film Festival is marked with four days of ocean-focused, independent films. In addition, the Festival will host lively Q&A panels with film directors, marine scientists, and industry experts, as they discuss the films and share insights into ocean conservation, preservation, and legislation.   

The Festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of our big, blue ocean. Subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture. Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.

Sponsors for this year’s festival include RingCentral, Jenga Ocean, Hapag Lloyd, RBC Wealth Management, PADI, PADI Club, The Philippine Office of Tourism, Thor Hope Foundation, Dynamico Space and the Consul General of Canada in San Francisco. Note: Additional sponsorship opportunities are available through April 1^st.Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

2023 Awards – Official Selections (Alpha List)

1. Collision, Philip Hamilton (London, UK) 80 min 2023 Environment Award
2. Deep Rising, Matthieu Rytz (USA) 98 min 2023 Conservation Award & 2023 Director’s Award 
3. Gender Outlaw, a bodysurfing story, Peter Williams (USA) 16 min 2023 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award
4. Havana Libre, Corey McLean (USA) 85 min 2023 Ocean Sports & Exploration Award
5. The Impossible Wave, Jessica Frankovelgia Johnson & Jay Johnson (USA) 40 min 2023 Female Filmmaker Award
6. Mediterranean LIFE UNDER SIEGE, Fred Fougea (France) 91 min 2023 Wildlife Award 
7. New Boats, Lansana Mansaray (Sierra Leone) 50 min 2023 Coastal and Island Culture Award
8. Rise of the Clambassador, Alexander Davidowski (USA) 8 min2023 Short Award

The 20th International Ocean Film Festival runs April 13 – 16, 2023 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center and San Rafael’s Smith Theatre. The International Ocean Film Festival is a 501(c) 3 non-profit. 

• www.intloceanfilmfest.org 
• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

PRESS RELEASE

MAYOR BREED’S PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD WITH APPROVAL BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Police overtime funding and community ambassador contracts extension will address immediate safety needs in neighborhoods across San Francisco while work continues on longer-term solutions

San Francisco, CA – Today Mayor London N. Breed’s legislation to address key public safety needs was approved by the Board of Supervisors.

First, $25 million in funding for police overtime will ensure officers can continue to provide the current level of service in the City, while also lifting a hiring freeze that has prevented retired police ambassadors from being deployed and academy classes from beginning. This legislation was approved by a vote of 9-2.

Second, contract extensions for two of the City’s ambassador programs will ensure that the Tenderloin, Mid-Market, Downtown, South of Market, Union Square and all along the waterfront continue to have ambassador coverage. This legislation was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.

These actions are part of a public safety push the Mayor is leading to address critical short-term and long-term safety needs in the City that also includes disrupting open-air drug markets and addressing long-term staffing needs for the San Francisco Police Department.

“Public safety is the number one issue I hear about from residents and small businesses every day,” said Mayor London Breed. “These measures address immediate, on-the- ground needs in our neighborhoods, by ensuring that our police officers are able to respond to calls for service and address major safety needs, while also keeping ambassadors on our streets to make them more welcoming and safer. I want to thank all of the community members who stepped forward to express their support for these measures and for public safety in our city.”

Fund Overtime: Budget Supplemental

On Tuesday February 14, Mayor Breed introduced a $27 million budget supplemental to fund police overtime and public safety ambassadors through the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2023.) She was joined by co-sponsors Supervisors Catherine Stefani, Rafael Mandelman, Matt Dorsey, and Joel Engardio. During the legislative process, the supplemental was reduced to $25 million.

The approval of the supplemental ensures the police have the funding necessary to continue to meet current levels of service. This includes the ability to investigate and curtail drug dealing and illegal use of narcotics, reduce gun violence, homicides, theft, and violent crimes. Importantly, this supplemental prevents mandated service cuts and lifts a mandated a hiring freeze.

“Things in San Francisco are changing for the better and we need to sustain our efforts. This budget supplemental allows us to maintain our focus on addressing drug dealing, violent crime, and property crime,” said SFPD Chief William Scott. “The largest single category of the overtime by far is being spent to backfill each of the ten police district stations, and that impacts every community in San Francisco.”

Continue Ambassador Program in the Tenderloin and Downtown: Contract Extension

In January, Mayor Breed introduced a contract extension for two ambassador programs: Urban Alchemy that covers the Tenderloin and Mid-Market areas and the Welcome Ambassadors that cover Downtown and tourist areas. Both of these programs have created positive change in the areas they are located. Urban Alchemy has been an asset for the community, serves as an alternative to policing, and has helped bring stability to some of our most challenged streets.

The Welcome Ambassadors are an essential part of our Downtown and tourism recovery. They support visitors, workers, and residents, and help make conventions at Moscone Center a success. They’ve received highly positive, consistent feedback about the beneficial impact they are having.

“We thank Mayor Breed, the Board of Supervisors, and the City and County of San Francisco for their investment and commitment to developing an innovative public safety model that provides inclusion and opportunity for folks who traditionally have been counted out,” said Founder and CEO of Urban Alchemy, Dr. Lena Miller. “By compassionately responding to anger and despair, our Practitioners work their magic every day to peacefully intervene and deescalate often dangerous situations that may harm our communities. Urban Alchemy is building a system designed and implemented by the people it impacts while setting a precedent for what safe, community-based alternatives can look like across the country.”

“Our Welcome Ambassadors are essential to enhancing the visitor experience in Union Square,” said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of Union Square Alliance. “We are proud to partner with the City to ensure that San Francisco remains a welcoming, safe and vibrant destination for all.”

In addition to these actions, the Mayor is also pushing for two more solutions to address public safety in the City.

The first is to increase disruption of open-air drug dealing by expediting hiring for prosecutors focused on drug dealing. The Mayor has introduced a nearly $200,000 supplemental funding for three additional prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office who will focus on open air drug dealing. This will bolster the DA’s aggressive efforts by expediting additional resources.

The second is to strengthen retention and recruit new police officers by approving a new police contract. The new Police Contract Agreement will help stop the outflow of experienced officers leaving San Francisco by including significant retention bonuses. It will also help recruit new officers by making San Francisco the highest paid starting salary in the Bay Area for larger cities while also adding incentives for officers looking to transfer from other jurisdictions. The legislation to adopt the contract must be approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors.

This contract is part of a broader strategy to address long-term police staffing issues. More about that effort can be found here.

Media contact:  DP&A, Inc. / David Perry / (415) 676-7007 /news@davidperry.com 

Union Square Alliance Welcomes BART’s New Deployment Strategy for a Cleaner, Safer District

21 March 2023, San Francisco, CA: In a recent press conference, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) announced a new deployment strategy to increase safety and cleanliness on their trains and platforms. This initiative aligns with the Union Square Alliance’s strategic plan to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment in the Union Square District.

BART’s new deployment strategy, outlined by BART Police Chief Alvarez, involves maximizing the visible presence of the BART Police Department throughout the transit system. The plan includes the removal of seven traditional vehicle patrols per shift, redeploying those officers inside trains, and increasing the number of officers patrolling trains per shift to 18. Furthermore, the strategy will incorporate non-sworn staff such as transit ambassadors, crisis intervention specialists, fire inspectors, and community service officers.

This initiative is a response to concerns from BART riders, who have expressed frustrations about the system’s current state. As the city and region recover, BART aims to regain the public’s trust and encourage ridership.

The Union Square Alliance, a key stakeholder in maintaining the district’s prosperity, voiced its support for the new deployment strategy. Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance, said “A clean and safe transportation environment is vital to attracting visitors and workers back downtown.”

The Alliance focuses on enhancing the district’s appeal through initiatives such as economic development, public realm improvements, and creating events for the community to enjoy.

John Grubb, Chief Operating Officer of the Bay Area Council, also supported the new strategy, stating that a safer BART system would encourage ridership and help prevent the transit system from going bankrupt. The Bay Area Council will work with BART on officer recruitment campaigns and seek additional funding from state and federal governments.

As part of its ongoing efforts, BART is also evaluating bids for new fare gates to prevent fare evasion, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to improving the transit experience for riders and stakeholders.

About Union Square Alliance:
The Union Square Alliance serves members and creates a high-quality visitor experience by managing and activating public spaces, attracting new investment, and advocating for the district’s future success. Union Square is the vibrant heart of San Francisco, an international destination where visitors enjoy exceptional retail experiences, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, and great public spaces found only in the City by the Bay. A lively 27-block community surrounding Union Square Park in the heart of San Francisco makes up the Union Square Alliance. It is bordered on the north by Bush Street, on the east by Kearny Street, on the south by Market Street, and on the west by Taylor Street. For more information on the Alliance, go to www.visitunionsquaresf.com.

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