ABOUT
Dive In to the
FREMANTLE UNDERWATER FILM FESTIVAL!
You are invited to attend a memorable evening, showcasing the biodiversity and wonder of our oceans through a hand-picked selection of short, underwater films.
The official screenings for the Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF) will be held in Fremantle, Western Australia. FUFF is screened annually in coastal towns and cities around metropolitan and regional Western Australia. The festival screens just under two hours of short films in two acts, with an interval in between acts.
The Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF) is a not for profit, independent, grassroots social and environmental movement for positive change for the ocean. FUFF functions as an annual underwater short film festival in both the City of Fremantle and regional venues around Western Australia.
Each night of the festival we aim to:
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Share interesting, fun and thought-provoking short films to highlight the magical mysteries of the underwater world
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Showcase the work of talented local and global underwater film makers and animators, with a feature on personal ocean stories and educational messages that can help to spread awareness of how to exist in harmony with the marine realm
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Raise awareness about critically endangered marine species such as New Zealand's endemic Maui Dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori maui, the scalloped Hammerhead Sphyrna lewini , the Green Sawfish Pristis zijsron and the West Australian endemic coral reef-associated short-nosed sea snake Aipysurus apraefrontalis that may go extinct in our lifetime without concerted efforts to change our ways for the better
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Raise funds for marine biodiversity conservation projects through ticket sales to help save critically endangered marine species from extinction
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Promote the coastal City of Fremantle as a unique Australian place where the community is made up of especially caring ambassadors for the underwater world
The Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF) ran a community campaign in its hometown of the City of Fremantle to help protect our local ocean life by petitioning the council to ban disposable plastic straws at all retail outlets in Fremantle .
Thank you to the global community that helped by signing our online petition to show support for marine biodiversity conservation. We reached over 5,000 signatures that were hand-delivered to the Fremantle Council in a bid to protect our marine wildlife and reduce unnecessary disposable plastic waste polluting and damaging our precious ocean ecosystems. Changes in plastic waste management and an advocacy policy were the positive result of this action to protect our sea life.
"The ocean exists as a fundamental reality of the earth. Through that mirror YOU can see
the fundamental reality of YOUR selF" - Carlos Eyles
Tania Douthwaite, is the Founder and Director of the
Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF) .
She HAS A PASSIONATE LOVE OF LIFE
AND the ocean.
Tania is trained as a marine scientist, ocean educator and creative artist.
Her training and education includes:
-Bachelor of Marine Science with Marine & Antarctic Science (Professional Honors),
-Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy & Religion,
-Diploma of Primary Education,
-Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors,
-Freediving Instructor
-Yoga Instructor
-Wellness Coach
-Breathwork & Meditation Teacher
Tania has a comprehensive academic background that compliments her years of experience working in ocean-related industries. She is currently undertaking a Diploma of Counselling to be better equipped to research the contemporary well-being benefits of nature-connectedness and freediving.
In the underwater realm, she is best known for her leading role in the Western Australian freediving industry, championing the well-being benefits and the life-saving education offered by certified freediving courses and as an advocate for action for ocean restoration.
She is an award-winning underwater photographer and the program director of the MERMANTLE project supporting young men in developing freediving safety consciousness, self-leadership and healthy mental attitudes for life. Hear her talk here about Pathways to Ocean Health on World Ocean's Day. She was a panelist at the 2021 Blue Growth Economy Forum and continues a growing list of public speaking events advocating for ocean restoration-innovation, safety and connectedness.
Tania is a trained professional in aquatic health and safety - and an insurance-certified Master freediving and pranayama (breathwork) teacher for the locally owned and operated, Blueback Freediving & Yoga.
Tania takes an active role in promoting the preciousness of ocean life.
As a creative artist and underwater photographer, Tania, appreciates the power of visual media to immerse the viewer in the majesty of nature. She believes carefully curated underwater short film, as screened at the Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF), has the power to foster strong nature-connectedness and community-mindedness, while being enjoyed from the comfort of an accessible, family-friendly event.
In 2014, Tania founded the Blueback Freediving Squad, Perth’s first pool training program for local freedivers, and ran Western Australia's first Pool Freediving Competition in 2015. She is a leader in ocean safety and marine conservation within the Western Australian freediving community - running ocean safety, mental health and nature immersion work with metropolitan and regional communities. Tania enjoys helping others enjoy safe and environmentally conscious apnea activities, ocean adventures and interactions with marine wildlife - in the ocean or in front of the big screen! She developed the Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF) in 2014, in order to do something positive to help restore the health of the ocean of which she believes, we are an integral part.
Our health and the health of the ocean are connected.
To help out with a festival stall, volunteering, sponsorship's or partnerships with the not for profit Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF), please get in touch!
The festival is entirely volunteer-run and cannot survive without the help and support of the community to make it possible.
Donations to assist with the running of FUFF are gratefully received and can be credited online on behalf of your business or organization supporting the values and objectives of the FUFF.
See FUFF contact info at the bottom of the page.
FILMS
SCHEDULE 2023
FREMANTLE HOMETOWN SCREENINGS
13 - 15 JAN 2023 - 6PM
OFFICIAL FREMANTLE SCREENINGS
Fremantle Town Hall
Walyalup Koort, Walyalup-Fremantle
SOUTH WEST WA TOUR
TBA 2023 - 7PM
Margaret River
TBA 2023 - 6PM
Esperance
TBA 2023 - 6PM
Denmark
TBA 2023 - 6PM
Albany
TBA 2023 - 6PM
Yallingup
TBA 2023 - 6PM
Bremer Bay
NORTH WEST WA TOUR
AUG 2023 - 7PM
Exmouth
SEP 2023 - 7PM
Bill's Bar, Coral Bay
PAST EVENTS
JAN 2018 / 2019
OFFICIAL SCREENING
Port Beach Garden Bar - Outdoor Cinema
44 Tydeman Road, North Fremantle
25 FEB 2018
METRO SCREENING
Fremantle Fibonacci Centre
SUMMER 2018 / 2019
SW WA SCREENINGS
Hopetoun Community
Albany Town Square
Margaret River Community Centre
Caves House, Yallingup
AUTUMN / WINTER 2018/2019
NW WA SCREENINGS
Whalebone Brewing Company, Exmouth
Bill's Bar, Coral Bay
29 NOV 2017
Australian Premiere
DOLPHIN MAN
6 DEC 2017
LAST PARADISE
13 DEC 2017
Australian Premiere
BLUEFIN
WA Premiere - Wed. 29 Nov. 2017 Port Beach Garden Bar Outdoor Cinema 44 Tydeman Road, North Fremantle, WA
Wed. 6 Dec. 2017 Port Beach Garden Bar Outdoor Cinema 44 Tydeman Road, North Fremantle, WA
WA Premiere - Wed. 13 Dec. 2017 Port Beach Garden Bar Outdoor Cinema 44 Tydeman Road, North Fremantle, WA
PAST SPONSORS & COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
PROUD SUPPORTER OF
The FREMANTLE UNDERWATER FILM FESTIVAL (FUFF) is a proud supporter of the important marine biodiversity conservation work of the Maui & Hector's Dolphin Defenders NZ Inc. This community group is committed to saving the world's rarest marine dolphin from extinction, through education and action in New Zealand.
Thanks to the dedicated, big-hearted committee and volunteers of the Maui & Hector's Dolphin Defenders NZ Inc. for all their hard work to make the on-the-ground protection of the critically endangered, Maui Dolphin, a reality in New Zealand. I am so glad that ticket sales from festival shows can be put to good use, helping to conserve global marine biodiversity through the generous, hard-working nature of the Maui & Hector's Dolphin Defenders NZ Inc..
There are less than 63 adult individuals left of this marine dolphin. Without concerted conservation efforts this endemic New Zealand dolphin will sadly go extinct in our lifetimes!
Please visit their website at Maui & Hectors Dolphin Defenders NZ Inc. and support their work to save Maui Dolphin.
The FREMANTLE UNDERWATER FILM FESTIVAL (FUFF) is also a proud supporter of the important marine biodiversity conservation work of CAPE CONSERVATION GROUP.
The 2019/2020 festival ticket funds were divested to both our long-term conservation collaborators, Maui & Hector's Dolphin Defenders NZ Inc., to enable them to continue their work for the critically endangered Maui Dolphin. In 2020/2021 we were able to expand our marine biodiversity conservation support closer to home, by providing our new community conservation collaborators CAPE CONSERVATION GROUP, with a donation to protect the critically endangered Green Sawfish (Pristis zijsron) in the Exmouth Gulf.
The CAPE CONSERVATION GROUP (CCG) is based in Exmouth, and is made up of ordinary people who love the North West Cape. Ningaloo is one of the world’s last great places and we want to protect it. CCG believe that preservation of the environment is really important. To do this CCG try to reduce the human impact on it and continue to be good stewards of the environment.
CAPE CONSERVATION GROUP is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization that is involved in protecting the terrestrial and marine environment of the North West Cape. The group has been active for 25 years now, and has been instrumental in some major projects and campaigns, like Save Ningaloo, Halt the Salt and Protect Ningaloo. Members are an eclectic mix of people from many walks of life, but are united by a passion for conservation. And each member brings different knowledge, skills and experiences to the job of promoting good environmental stewardship.
CAPE CONSERVATION GROUP are always keen to welcome new members and believe that everyone has something to offer. If you care for the natural world and you’re keen to see it protected for the future, then join CAPE CONSERVATION GROUP at www.ccg.org.aU
