The internationally-acclaimed documentary The Blue Quest: Palawan, is now accessible to the general public on YouTube starting March 20, particularly highlighting the efforts done by Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park rangers, Project C3’s scientists, and Sulubaaï Foundation’s researchers on marine biodiversity conservation in recent years.
The Blue Quest is a French non-government organization, producing a series of film documentaries that centers marine conservation efforts around the world, giving a voice to those stewards who safeguard the waters and showcasing their quiet efforts to maintain Marine Protected Areas (MPA).
The Palawan version of the film was shot by Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse of the Marine Conservation Institute, funded by Lilian Degand and the Pure Ocean fund.
The Blue Quest: Palawan was uploaded on YouTube a year after it was shown in international film circuits. The film debuted on January 2024, and was since then screened in the International Ocean Film Festival Maison de l’Océan with Sulubaaï Foundation, the Stanford Sustainability Summit at Stanford University, the Our Ocean Conference in Athens, Monaco Ocean Week, and the Biomim’Expo in Paris.
Some of its awards included the Conservation Award at the International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco, a Silver Trophy at the Deauville Green Awards, Best Documentary Award at the Big Blue Film Festival in Newport, Audience Award at the San Diego Environmental Film Festival, and the Honorary Trophy at the Awareness Film Festival in Los Angeles.
A special one-day screening was held on April 19, 2024 in Palawan State University (Palawan SU) Amphitheater, headed by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and Sulubaaï Foundation.
The two directors presented their award from the International Ocean Film Festival during that forum, thanking Reynante Ramilo of Community Centered Conservation Philippines, Frédéric Tardieu of Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, and Angelique Songco of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park for providing insights into their work for their film.
“I mean, we all have to remember that you are the one doing an amazing job and your amazing action here in Palawan Biosphere Reserve has to be highlighted. You are actually providing an amazing template for marine conservation worldwide,” Portal stated.
The video interviews were shot in the participant’s native languages, but the film provided complete French, English, and Filipino/Tagalog subtitles on YouTube.
Watch The Blue Quest: Palawan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zhwbCyWlYc
