The free cinematic event, to be held in Concepción from 23 al 25 de abril, invites the community to reconnect with the ocean through culture, education, and technology.

The 4th International Sea Film Festival (Marcinefest 2026) has officially announced its lineup for this edition, establishing itself as the region's most important oceanographic film showcase. Under the theme of conservation and exploration, the event will offer three days of free screenings, panel discussions, and an educational program reaching hundreds of schoolchildren.

“Film has the unique power to make us feel the ocean before understanding it scientifically,” says Pablo Rosenblatt, Director of the Festival. “Our 2026 selection aims for the viewer to be amazed by hadal biodiversity, but also to reflect on the urgent threats facing our blue heritage.”

For her part, Bárbara Léniz, General Producer and Outreach Coordinator of the IMO, highlights the festival's evolution: “This year, Marcinefest leaves the classroom to inhabit the city. We will be at the UdeC Auditorium, the Teatro Biobío, and the Colegio Médico, uniting academia with the public in a necessary and urgent dialogue.”

The realization of the 4th International Sea Film Festival (Marcinefest 2026) is possible thanks to an excellent strategic alliance led by the Ocean Institute of the Universidad de Concepción and the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), with the collaboration of: Dirección de Extensión UdeC, Oceana, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, IMAGO, Colegio Médico, Sono, Municipalidad de Concepción, Teatro Biobío, Holiday inn, COPAS, SECOS, INCAR, Faculty of Natural and Oceanographic Sciences, along with media partners: Medios UdeC and El Mostrador.

Program schedule and official lineup

The Marcinefest 2026 programming highlights not only the film lineup but also the implementation of an Educational Program aimed at the inter-communal school community and high-quality satellite events for the general public.

The lineup for this fourth edition stands out for its remarkable diversity and global reach, bringing together 21 productions from 13 countries. Organized into Feature Film, Short Film, and Animation categories, the programming has been carefully selected to offer an immersive experience ranging from the rigor of scientific research to the sensitivity of auteur cinema. Works from Chile, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, and Uruguay, among others, will converge on Concepción's screens to reveal both the hidden beauty and the urgent threats facing our blue heritage.

The cinematic journey will inhabit emblematic spaces of the city, highlighting the auteur cinema milestone to be held on viernes 24 de abril at the Colegio Médico de Concepción Auditorium. During this session, the acclaimed Uruguayan documentary "Mar de lobos" will be screened, serving as the starting point for an exclusive dialogue between the audience and its director, Matías Ameglio. This work invites deep reflection on the complex relationship between local culture and marine fauna, consolidating the festival as a necessary space for community debate.

Likewise, Marcinefest 2026 includes a robust educational program to be held on 20, 21 y 23 de abril at venues such as USM Hualpén and CiCAT. Through this pedagogical deployment, coordinated by the Festival organization in partnership with the I. Municipalidad de Hualpén, hundreds of schoolchildren from the inter-commune will participate in screenings designed to awaken scientific curiosity and respect for the sea from childhood, ensuring that oceanic knowledge reaches new generations in a playful and effective way.

The grand closing milestone will take place on sábado 25 at 19:00 hours at the Teatro Biobío.

On this final night, the Awards Ceremony for the official competition categories will take place, culminating with the exclusive Chilean premiere of the BBC documentary "Ocean," narrated by David Attenborough.

This gala screening will close a week of total immersion, using immersive technology to emotionally connect the viewer with the vastness of the ocean.

Marcinefest 2026 Jury

The evaluation committee combines audiovisual technical mastery with scientific excellence. In this version, the jury is composed of 5 specialists:

  • Andrea Chignoli: Prestigious film editor with a career dating back to 1995. Her filmography includes "No" (Oscar-nominated) and "Violeta se fue a los cielos." Member of the Hollywood Academy and mentor at the Sundance Documentary Lab. She is currently the Lead Editor for the Amazon series "La Casa de los Espíritus."

  • Catalina Velasco: Marine biologist (UV) and PhD in Antarctic Sciences. National Geographic Explorer, underwater photographer, and co-founder of the Fundación Mar y Ciencia. She is the author of popular science books such as "Vida Sumergida" and "Navegantes Ancestrales."

  • Dr. Renato Quiñones Bergeret: Distinguished academic from the Universidad de Concepción and Director of the Ocean Institute UdeC. UN expert for assessing ocean health and winner of the 2015 Municipal Science Prize.

  • Matías Ameglio: Film director and director of photography. He has led international projects in Los Angeles, Paris, and Sydney. Director of the award-winning documentaries "Mar de Lobos" (2022) and "Cuatro lagunas" (2025).

  • Daniel Carrasco: Digital animator and Motion Graphics specialist. Digital Animation professor at Duoc UC Concepción, with extensive experience in animated series and corporate communication.

To find out the details of the schedules and reviews for each selected work, visit https://www.marcinefest.cl/