Humpback Whale Documentary Won Top Film Festival Award
The documentary If They Were Us earned first place for its focus on humpback whale migration in the Sargasso Sea.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Wildlife
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The documentary If They Were Us: The Humpback Whales of the Sargasso Sea took first place in the Marine Ecosystems Film category at the recent Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in Monterrey, Mexico. This 47-minute film catalogs the migratory habits of humpback whales through the Sargasso Sea.
Why it matters
The production highlights the importance of long-term marine observation, drawing on twenty years of research to identify nearly 2,500 individual whales. This documentary brings complex migration patterns to light through extensive underwater and aerial data collection.
The documentary identifies 2,500 individual humpback whales using the Bermuda Humpback Whale Catalogue. The film features 180 hours of aerial and underwater footage gathered over two decades.
The players
Andrew Stevenson
A researcher and producer who has spent two decades documenting marine life through papers and film.
Elsa Stevenson
A narrator who provides the perspective for the award-winning documentary.
Somers Stevenson
A narrator who contributes to the storytelling approach of the film.
The details
The production utilized advanced drone and underwater camera technology to capture whale activity. Interestingly, segments of the final documentary were produced within a converted home bedroom closet studio. The film narrates the migration story from the perspective of Elsa and Somers Stevenson.
Timeline
2010: Where the Whales Sing won Best Underwater Film-maker award.
2019: The Secret Lives of the Humpbacks was completed and won Best Oceans Film.
2022: The Secret Lives of the Humpbacks won an award in France.
September 2026: If They Were Us won at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival.
The Home Front
This success marks a continuation of the long-term data collection trends established by the Bermuda Humpback Whale Catalogue. The project highlights how multi-decade marine research remains a foundational element in modern conservation efforts.
Families interested in marine conservation can look for local screenings of this documentary in their area. Tracking local wildlife migration or cataloging species in your own backyard can be a simple way to engage children with these broader environmental findings.
The takeaway
The documentary shows that significant scientific impact can be achieved even from modest home-based studio setups. Keep an eye on local conservation event calendars to see if a screening of this award-winning film comes to your community.
What happens next
The film will be screened at various local venues in the future.
Further reading
Discover more about ongoing research and nature projects in our Wildlife section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Royal Gazette.
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