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NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is diving into BLUE, Sept. 24-30, as BLUE Ocean Film Festival comes to Monterey, Calif.

More than 100 ocean films will be screened, including "Sanctuary in the Sea - A Gulf of the Farallones Experience," and the Beach Boy's Music Video "Don't Fight the Sea," promoting national marine sanctuaries. Both films were produced and directed by Bob Talbot, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation board member.

BLUE is more than a film festival. It's also a conservation summit. During BLUE, a unique gathering of world leaders in ocean issues, solutions and policy head up a series of lectures and panels in conjunction with community education outreach programs. NOAA and ONMS have been asked to participate in the festival's conservation panels.

Highlights of BLUE include a panel on sustaining a healthy ocean with HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, and a panel on the power of film with Edward James Olmos and ONMS's Chief of Staff Matt Stout discussing California's Thank You Ocean campaign.

Behind the scenes at BLUE.

OceansLive, a national marine sanctuaries production, will livecast from BLUE each day with interviews, event coverage and more.

During BLUE, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a sponsor of the festival, will host a celebration reception for the 40th anniversary of National Marine Sanctuaries and the 20th anniversary of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

BLUE also will include recognition of explorers James Cameron and Don Walsh, a gathering of submersibles, an opening event with Jean-Michel Cousteau and Sylvia Earle, and appearances by sanctuary friends and supporters such as Celine Cousteau, Bob Ballard, Kip Evans, Frank Gromling, Greg and Shaun MacGillivray, Chris Palmer, Mark Shelley, Charlotte Vick, and many more!

For additional information: www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org