The Boston Sea Rovers this week unveiled the speakers who will be taking part at the film festival during the organization’s annual International Ocean Clinic.
Author, shipwreck hunter and storyteller Jennifer Sellitti will be the emcee. In her work, she weaves complex and intriguing tales of lost ships, the passengers who traveled aboard them and the explorers who uncover their secrets.
The speakers include:
- Filmmakers Howard and Michelle Hall: Between them, they have won seven Emmy Awards; their most recent film, “Soul of the Ocean,” is a 78-minute feature-length film completed in 2022.
- Marine biologist, scientist and wildlife filmmaker Erick Higuera: He specializes in capturing natural history sequences of marine fauna. For over 25 years, he has explored the waters surrounding the Baja California Peninsula, Guadalupe Island, and Revillagigedo National Park, photographing, researching, and filming the life cycle of some of its marine inhabitants.
- Freshwater filmmaker David Herasimtschuk: With a background in freshwater ecology, his work focuses on revealing the hidden worlds beneath rivers and streams.
- Wildlife cameraman Jeff Hester: He’s a SOC associate member, Explorer’s Club member, former OWUSS Rolex Scholar and licensed drone pilot. He currently freelances as a camera operator for a variety of companies, including Netflix, BBC, Apple TV, Disney+ and National Geographic.
- Underwater cinematographers and maritime archaeologists Steven Lopez and Carmen Obied-Opening: As co-founders of Explorers Photography, they approach the ocean as a living archive, combining scientific methods with artistry and cinematic storytelling for ocean preservation and advocacy.
The 72nd Boston Sea Rovers International Ocean Clinic will take place March 14 and 15, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton-Boston North Shore.
To register for the event, go to bostonsearovers.com.
