Because the world celebrated World Ocean Day on Sunday, 8 June, a proudly South African conservation movie was timeously honoured on the worldwide stage. Caleb: Past the Chunk, produced by WILDTRUST and Love Africa Advertising, has been awarded Gold on the 2025 Worldwide Tourism Movie Competition Africa (ITFFA) – one 12 months for the reason that movie’s launch. This marks the fourth Movie Competition that the movie has been recognised by up to now.
The Movie Competition obtained over 450 entries from internationally, which culminated in a pink carpet occasion on Friday night on the Lodge Sky in Sandton, Johannesburg.
“This movie was actually inspirational,” says ITFFA Competition Organiser Caroline Ungersbock. “It delivered a really robust and needed message that resonated deeply with our judges and attendees of the movie competition.”
The brief movie follows para-athlete, actor, and shark chew survivor Caleb Swanepoel’s emotional return to the ocean to swim with sharks, the very species that altered the course of his life in 2015.
Caleb Swanepoel on the ITFFA Awards
Removed from a typical wildlife movie, it presents a deeply human narrative that challenges fear-driven perceptions of sharks and highlights their significance in South Africa’s marine ecosystems.
“I’m extremely excited that the movie has been recognised on the ITFFA Awards,” says Swanepoel. “It means a lot that extra folks around the globe will now get to see the movie and hopefully join with its message. Being a part of the mission and a staff that’s having an affect and altering the narrative round sharks is an actual privilege.”
Caleb: Past the Chunk was launched as a part of the WILDTRUST’s Sharks Beneath Assault marketing campaign, which goals to lift consciousness in regards to the pressing want for shark and ray conservation in South African waters. The movie highlights not solely the emotional energy of private transformation, but additionally the crucial position of notion in shark survival.
South Africa is a worldwide hotspot for shark and ray variety, with roughly 200 species calling its waters house. Many of those species are endemic (discovered nowhere else on Earth) and more and more threatened by habitat loss, overfishing, and public worry. The movie supplies a compelling name to guard these misunderstood animals by way of empathy, training, and coverage change.
“Caleb provides me hope for shark conservation,” says WILDTRUST shark scientist Leigh de Necker, who seems within the movie and swam alongside Caleb throughout his return to the ocean. “If he can shift his perspective on sharks after such a traumatic expertise, then there’s hope for all of us to do the identical.”
Caleb: Past the Chunk is obtainable to look at on-line:
WATCH THE FILM: https://sharksunderattackcampaign.co.za/caleb-beyond-the-bite/
Obtain Pictures: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TOvopXSEP2r95THKy8Cxx0COHUwN46xn?usp=drive_link
For extra data on shark and ray conservation, go to:
Web site:www.sharksunderattackcampaign.co.za Marketing campaign socials: Instagram: @sharksunderattack | X: @sharks_u_attack | Fb: /sharksunderattack Caleb’s socials: @calebswanepoel on Instagram
Media Contacts:
