South Africa’s powerful conservation documentary ‘SPOILED’ triumphed over 157 international entries to bring home the prestigious Best Film Promoting Sustainability award at Spain’s 10th Terres Travel Festival.
Tortosa, Spain (25 September 2026) – Out of 157 global entries spanning 29 countries, South Africa’s very own short feature documentary, SPOILED, has captured international acclaim, taking home the prestigious ‘Terres de l’Ebre’ Award for Best Film Promoting Sustainability at the 10th edition of the Terres Travel Festival!
Held from 12 to 18 September 2026 in Tortosa, Spain, the Terres Travel Festival stands as a premier global stage for film and tourism dedicated to sustainable development, conservation, and responsible travel. Standing tall as one of the festival’s top two Great Awards, this accolade celebrates storytelling that inspires the world to engage with our planet more responsibly.
The award marks the largest international victory to date for SPOILED – a deeply moving film that puts a spotlight on South Africa’s coastal communities, local fishers, dedicated scientists, and fierce activists uniting to protect our coastline from the threat of offshore oil and gas exploration.
It was presented as one of three ‘perspectives on nature conservation’ at a live screening event part of the festival programme.
The film premiered in South Africa at a high-level marine workshop in Cape Town in July 2025, unpacking preliminary findings from a WILDTRUST-led project examining the environmental, social and economic risks of offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction in South Africa.
The film takes viewers along the windswept coastline of the Northern Cape and the culturally rich Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape, revealing a simple and urgent truth: around 90% of South Africa’s mainland ocean territory is threatened by oil and gas exploration.
Through deeply personal interviews with local fishers, activists, youth and community leaders, the film uncovers the cracks in the system that allow international oil and gas giants to pursue drilling rights in South African waters – including flawed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), a lack of meaningful public consultation, and the leasing of ocean space without community consent.
It is, at its heart, a story of resilience and hope: a tribute to and voice for the everyday heroes defending their livelihoods, their heritage and the ocean we all rely on.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this award for ‘SPOILED’. This film amplifies the voices of coastal communities who are too often ignored or sidelined in government-level decisions about their ocean. I feel incredibly privileged to produce films that help give marginalised communities – and nature itself – a voice and a meaningful say in decisions that affect their ocean, their livelihoods and, ultimately, our collective future,” said Lauren van Nijkerk, Campaigns and Communications Director at WILDTRUST.
They Made It! Young Animal Welfare Volunteers Off to Cape Town
This Dog Saw Humanity at Its Cruellest – Then Came a Little Girl With R15The film was produced by WILDTRUST and Love Africa Marketing, in collaboration with The Green Connection, and has already built significant momentum since its release, with more than 2 million views across social media, screened to 20 fisher communities reaching over 750 people across three provinces, and a Silver Award at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) 2026. The Terres de l’Ebre Award adds a major international accolade to that growing list.
Nicola Gerrard, film co-director and founder of Love Africa Marketing, said she was deeply honoured to receive this award, saying it shines a light on this important South African story for our ocean.
“Through the power of storytelling and film, we hope to build greater public awareness, deepen understanding, and inspire people to value and support our natural heritage. A heartfelt thank you to our crew and partners for their incredible commitment and effort in bringing this story to the screen,” Nicola added.
Green Connection Spokesperson, Neville van Rooy said the film comes at a critical time for South Africa.
“The Africa Energy Corporation-owned ‘Main Street 1549 Pty Ltd’ is pushing to secure Block 11b and 12b, currently conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with interests in oil and gas exploration off the coast of Mossel Bay. This also presents an opportunity for communities and potentially impacted stakeholders to speak up for their oceans – and information on how to have your voice heard is sitting on the film’s website.”
The hope is that this international honour will draw fresh global attention to the risks facing South Africa’s oceans, and to the communities most likely to be affected.
SPOILED is available to watch online, and the public is encouraged to explore active offshore oil and gas applications along South Africa’s coastline via the interactive platform at stopthespoil.co.za.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 
