about us
The San Diego Environmental Film Festival (SDEFF) is a registered 501c3 nonprofit created to inspire and effect social change through the mediums of film, art and storytelling. We hope you join us to build a community working together to learn, inspire, and act to effect change.
our story
A passion project comes to life
Well, we are not like other film festival organizers. Our team is made up of scientists and policymakers with a big vision to inspire fun, creativity, and action in the environmental, conservation, and artistic space. In fact, each of us have had our share of working in the field: collecting water quality samples, monitoring coral reefs in the ocean water, developing policy to establish marine protected areas off our coast, and so much more. But, we knew that there is more.
We came together because we believed that it takes a big, big village to help make things happen. We need our community to come together and share in the story of creating positive impact. We believe our community has the power to do an immense amount. What if it all starts with a good story at the movies.
Building Art and Impact Together
The purpose of SDEFF is to inspire awe, engagement, and social change between people and our natural environment. Our mission is to curate an artistic, educational experience that uses film to bring people together, facilitate knowledge exchange, and effect social change.
We are thrilled to create a unique, inclusive and representative film festival focused on people, air, water and land, which all contribute to the long-term biodiversity of our planet. We hope to bring together diverse audiences and filmmakers to curate an artistic, educational experience that inspires action and positive impact.
building community for the future of our planet
The San Diego Environmental Film Festival offers a platform for filmmakers from around the globe to present creative ideas, talent, and skills in service to the planet. We will amplify unheard stories, highlight emerging talent, enhance access to unique content, provide new opportunities for learning, and build community within and outside San Diego.
The films showcased by SDEFF will spark curiosity and inspire on-the-ground actions by new audiences
our people
Cindy J Lin
Samantha Murray
Samantha Murray
Dr. Cindy J Lin is the CEO & Co-Founder of Hey Social Good, a social impact data analytics company working to revolutionize social good data for people, planet, and profit. Dr. Lin is an environmental and data scientist, ecologist, and national expert on pollution and its negative impacts on water, habitat and human health. She had worked
Dr. Cindy J Lin is the CEO & Co-Founder of Hey Social Good, a social impact data analytics company working to revolutionize social good data for people, planet, and profit. Dr. Lin is an environmental and data scientist, ecologist, and national expert on pollution and its negative impacts on water, habitat and human health. She had worked at the US EPA, where she designed national standards and implemented regulations and policies to meet international & national environmental standards. She is a National Expert on the Clean Water Act and was US EPA's Top Science Policy Advisor on Water & Climate when representing the US on international issues.
Samantha Murray
Samantha Murray
Samantha Murray
Samantha Murray is the Executive Director of the MAS MBC Program where she teaches graduate courses, including Ocean Law and Policy. In 2019 she was appointed by Governor Newsom to the California Fish and Game Commission and currently serves as President. Samantha has nearly two decades of professional experience and has directed ocean an
Samantha Murray is the Executive Director of the MAS MBC Program where she teaches graduate courses, including Ocean Law and Policy. In 2019 she was appointed by Governor Newsom to the California Fish and Game Commission and currently serves as President. Samantha has nearly two decades of professional experience and has directed ocean and water programs at Ocean Conservancy, the Audubon Society, and Oregon Environmental Council, in addition to founding a marine policy consulting business. Samantha played a key role in the design and implementation of California's network of marine protected areas, which now cover 16 percent of state waters.
Lindsay Bauman
Samantha Murray
Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Lindsay Bauman is a scientist with a background in molecular biology and co-founder of Surfgrass Productions. Her background includes DNA analysis, science communication, marine conservation, and policy. She's passionate about environmental storytelling and its ability to inspire and make an impact on our planet.
Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Andrea Sanchez Davidson is a program manager for Resources Legacy Fund and co-founder of Surfgrass Productions. In 2020, she graduated from the Masters in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This interdisciplinary program motivated her to use her creativity and passion for filmmaking to ins
Andrea Sanchez Davidson is a program manager for Resources Legacy Fund and co-founder of Surfgrass Productions. In 2020, she graduated from the Masters in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This interdisciplinary program motivated her to use her creativity and passion for filmmaking to inspire others to be curious, explore, and take care of the planet. She is committed to advancing coastal conservation, climate resilience, and equitable coastal access in her work and personal life.
Caroline Hobbs
Andrea Sanchez Davidson
Caroline Hobbs
Caroline Hobbs is a tennis player, artist, surfer, and passionate STEM educator. She has worked previously directing finances for the Environmental Film Festival at Yale, in legislative policy, consulting, and teaching at the 2nd grade to undergraduate level.
Her masters research focused on short term adaptation strategies of the pacific
Caroline Hobbs is a tennis player, artist, surfer, and passionate STEM educator. She has worked previously directing finances for the Environmental Film Festival at Yale, in legislative policy, consulting, and teaching at the 2nd grade to undergraduate level.
Her masters research focused on short term adaptation strategies of the pacific reef building coral: Montipora capitata. (You can see her lab’s work in the feature length documentary film, Chasing Coral).
Caroline aims to create environments conducive to innovation and creativity, to inspire passion, and to facilitate meaningful partnerships for strong environmental resource management in her career and beyond.