Two powerful South African conservation documentaries have earned international recognition, with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation taking home both Gold and Silver awards at the 2026 International Tourism Film Festival Africa.
Western Cape, South Africa (16 June 2026) – A city’s skyline can tell you a lot about a place. But look a little closer, beneath the harbour waters, along the rocky shoreline and into the lives of the people working to protect it, and you’ll find stories that are every bit as remarkable as the landmarks above.
That is exactly what the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation has managed to capture in two award-winning documentaries that have just earned international recognition. The Foundation has just announced that Wild Waterfront received Gold, while Raggies: A Shark Release was awarded Silver in the Documentary TV and Web category at the 2026 International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA).
For South Africans, it is a proud moment. A local production has been recognised on an international stage, and most importantly, the stories being celebrated are rooted in conservation, education and the extraordinary work happening right here along our coastline.
The International Tourism Film Festival Africa is regarded as one of the continent’s leading platforms for tourism and travel-related storytelling. Since its launch in 2019, the festival has showcased productions from around the world that promote destinations, experiences and conservation efforts through film, highlighting the power of visual storytelling to inspire audiences and create meaningful connections.
Behind both award-winning productions is the Ocean Campus Studios team, the dedicated film and media unit of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Led by filmmakers Marguerite Venter and Jerome Stationway, the team has built a reputation for creating documentaries that bring audiences closer to the ocean and the people working tirelessly to protect it.
Wild Waterfront, produced with support from the City of Cape Town Film Fund, shines a spotlight on the Marine Wildlife Management team operating at the V&A Waterfront. While millions of visitors pass through the iconic destination each year, few ever get to see the hidden world that exists behind the scenes. The documentary explores the delicate balance between urban development and wildlife conservation, showcasing the challenges and triumphs of protecting marine animals in one of South Africa’s busiest tourist hubs.
“It’s a privilege to tell the stories of a field I know so well and have been part of for 20 years. But more importantly, the privilege is in highlighting the people who dedicate their lives to conservation. Receiving these awards is incredibly humbling and reinforces the importance of telling these stories in a way that honours the people doing this vital work,” said Marguerite Venter, Head of Productions at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
Venter believes one of the documentary’s greatest strengths is revealing a side of the V&A Waterfront that most visitors never get to experience.
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The second film, Raggies: A Shark Release, takes viewers on a very different journey, one centred on one of the ocean’s most misunderstood animals. Produced with support from SCAR (Sharks Conservation and Research), the documentary follows the release of a ragged-tooth shark back into the wild and highlights the extensive collaboration, scientific expertise and planning required to make such a release possible.
The Two Oceans Aquarium is one of only a handful of aquariums globally that collects, cares for and ultimately releases ragged-tooth sharks, affectionately known in South Africa as “raggies”. The documentary offers a rare glimpse into that process while challenging long-held myths about sharks.
“Through firsthand insight from the people who work with sharks every day, Raggies challenges common misconceptions and reveals a quieter truth: Sharks are not mindless killers, but complex, vulnerable animals deserving of care, protection, and understanding,” said Jerome Stationway, First Camera Operator and Production Assistant at Ocean Campus Studios.
While the awards recognise exceptional filmmaking, they also celebrate something bigger. Both documentaries highlight the people, partnerships and organisations working every day to protect South Africa’s marine ecosystems. They demonstrate how film can do more than entertain; it can educate, inspire curiosity and encourage people to care about the natural world around them.
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