19th Annual
Louisiana's Reel Festival
Festival starts in
GUARDIANS OF THE GULF / CANADA / LOUISIANA PREMIERE
SHORT DOCUMENTARY
The Gulf of Mexico has long been affected by hurricanes, oil spills, overfishing, and agricultural run-off, but continues to support one of the most biodiverse ecosystems, with over 15,000 species. This resilience is tenuous because—like any relationship—only so much can be taken without giving back.
In Guardians of the Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico is given a voice by her caretakers to tell a story of generosity and strength. These conservationists, fisherpeople, tour operators, chefs, and student leaders strive to improve sustainability in their work and community. Through action, they are seeing change. Through this change, they see hope.
Director Biography
Cait Martin Newnham is a director, writer and producer specializing in documentary films and branded content. She produced Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Menstruation, an award-winning documentary about the global menstrual movement. The film premiered at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival and the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. After pursuing a Master’s of Journalism, Cait’s first documentary film, Filter, about Instagram influencers was bought by Bell Media. Cait is currently working on narrative and documentary projects.
Ulla Laidlaw is a Toronto-based filmmaker, focusing on environmental filmmaking both in practice and content. She is currently developing Under the Concrete with Charles Street Video, a curated program of Engaged Environmental Filmmaking that connects filmmakers with the land and water in Toronto as a first impulse in narrative filmmaking practice. Her most recent documentary Time Machine, follows Radix Theatre’s 5 hour yacht trip exploring the past, present and future of traditional unceded Tsleil-Watuth First Nation’s territory waters, while directing remotely in a carbon-cutting filmmaking practice.
In Guardians of the Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico is given a voice by her caretakers to tell a story of generosity and strength. These conservationists, fisherpeople, tour operators, chefs, and student leaders strive to improve sustainability in their work and community. Through action, they are seeing change. Through this change, they see hope.
Director Biography
Cait Martin Newnham is a director, writer and producer specializing in documentary films and branded content. She produced Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Menstruation, an award-winning documentary about the global menstrual movement. The film premiered at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival and the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. After pursuing a Master’s of Journalism, Cait’s first documentary film, Filter, about Instagram influencers was bought by Bell Media. Cait is currently working on narrative and documentary projects.
Ulla Laidlaw is a Toronto-based filmmaker, focusing on environmental filmmaking both in practice and content. She is currently developing Under the Concrete with Charles Street Video, a curated program of Engaged Environmental Filmmaking that connects filmmakers with the land and water in Toronto as a first impulse in narrative filmmaking practice. Her most recent documentary Time Machine, follows Radix Theatre’s 5 hour yacht trip exploring the past, present and future of traditional unceded Tsleil-Watuth First Nation’s territory waters, while directing remotely in a carbon-cutting filmmaking practice.
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