My Octopus Teacher
My Octopus Teacher– Winner of Founder’s Award, GSFA
My Octopus Teacher is a South African nature documentary that follows filmmaker and diver Craig Foster as he forms an unlikely and deeply emotional bond with a wild common octopus in a kelp forest off the coast of Cape Town. Over the course of nearly a year, Foster visits the octopus daily, observing her behaviours, learning her survival strategies, and witnessing her intelligence and vulnerability.
The film sparked widespread conversations on ocean conservation, the intelligence of cephalopods, and the importance of reconnecting with the natural world. It not only transformed audiences’ understanding of marine life but also became a catalyst for environmental education and activism, positioning itself as both a cultural and ecological milestone..
Impact
Before earning global acclaim, My Octopus Teacher was honoured with its very first award at the tve Global Sustainability Film Awards, receiving the Founder’s Award- recognition that marked the beginning of its extraordinary journey.
This early acknowledgement helped shine a light on the film’s emotional storytelling, ecological message, and artistic depth. It went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2021 and drew international attention to the rich marine biodiversity of South Africa’s kelp forests.
