The 9th River and Ocean Film Festival returns to Forks on October 2, 2026!

A peaceful scene of the Quinault River, with a moss-covered tree limb dangling in the foreground.

Quinault River en route to Enchanted Valley via the East Fork Quinault River Trail, Photo credit: Alison Lorenz

SAVE THE DATE: The River and Ocean Film Festival is expected to return to the Rainforest Arts Center in Forks on Friday October 2, 2026. This free, 2-hour event features a collection of short films that highlight the natural and social dimensions of the coast and coastal watersheds of the Olympic Peninsula.

Film submissions for the upcoming festival are now being accepted.  Films must be less than 20 minutes long, and relevant to the natural or social dimensions of the coast and coastal watersheds of the Olympic Peninsula. To submit a film, please email the title and length of the film to Ian Miller at immiller@uw.edu.

Sponsors

The River and Ocean Film Festival is brought to you by the North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee in collaboration with Washington Sea Grant. Event partners include the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the Clallam County Marine Resources Committee, and the Surfrider Foundation.

Check out video Q&As with some of the festival’s directors and organizers below!

John Gussman: https://youtu.be/8NQTJlczGFg
Jill Silver: https://youtu.be/Aisfm2Ggba0
Megan Juran: https://youtu.be/QV-BnzNh3MY

And see films from previous festivals here