City thrilled by Oscar glory for Netflix documentary featuring False Bay marine life
26 April 2021
My Octopus Teacher, a Netflix documentary which profiles the underwater activities of South African filmmaker Craig Foster and his daily visits to an octopus in the False Bay, added another prestigious accolade last night, taking home an Academy Award for Best Documentary. This follows a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) award, earlier this month.
The film initially began as a project to study the kelp ecosystem, but while chronicling the habits of this undersea creature, Foster formed a deep connection with it, learning a new appreciation for the complexity of marine life, which impacted other areas of his daily life. Craig Foster is also a naturalist, co-founding a non-profit Sea Change Trust in 2012. Filmed over a full year, the movie was released in 2020.
‘This award is a great honour for the team behind the film, as well as Cape Town. As Mayor of this beautiful city, it is wonderful to see how this documentary is promoting our city, and highlighting the importance of marine conservation. We would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to the creators of this award-winning documentary. We are confident it will keep the Mother City in the minds and hearts of filmmakers, and encourage tourists to take a glimpse at the extensive undersea world on their travels here, while respecting its natural beauty. Viewed by the world, the vast marine life is showcased prominently and proving that Cape Town’s coastline offers much to see,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
The City’s Coastal Management and Biodiversity Branches have many areas to conserve marine life and protect biodiversity:
Working in partnership with many organisations on many environmental and conservation related issues (including Sea Change, which Craig Foster leads)
Funds and operates the City’s Shark Spotting Programme
Monitors the quality of near shore coastal water quality and pollution
Monitors all of the estuaries in the city, which are partially enclosed, coastal water bodies where freshwater from rivers and streams mix with salt water from the ocean
Responds to marine and coastal emergencies, which include whales beaching to ships stranding
Manages the conservation of the African Penguin as part of the wider Simon’s Town penguin colony around the Boulders core
Assists and supports daily anti-poaching operations
Dune rehabilitation projects, among others
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
