Tribeca

Field Update #5

UPDATED: May 30, 2025

Tribeca

The email had a simple subject line: “THE LAST DIVE // Tribeca 2025.” Inside, the sentence “We would be thrilled to invite you to the world premiere with us at Tribeca this June!” leaped out, The words alone carried immense weight. I read the email multiple times, barely believing it. The Last Dive had been officially selected to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

To say this is an honor feels insufficient. Tribeca is one of the most respected and competitive film festivals in the world. Founded in the wake of 9/11 to revitalize Lower Manhattan, it has grown into a global platform for independent filmmakers and a powerful cultural institution. Being selected means that Willy and Terry’s story has risen to the top of thousands of submissions, chosen for its capacity to move, challenge, and inspire. For our team, it marks a profound milestone in what has been an extraordinary journey.

Since that moment, our preparations have taken on new urgency and focus. Tribeca is not simply an event—it is an opportunity to elevate the conversation around ocean conservation and veterans.

Central to our festival plans is the launch of our Impact Campaign. This effort has been months in development, and its mission is clear: to raise global awareness for manta ray conservation and to support military veterans through ocean-based rehabilitation—what we’ve come to call "Blue Therapy."

The ocean has a unique ability to heal. We’ve seen this firsthand through Terry, our co-protagonist in The Last Dive. A Navy veteran who forged a rare and profound bond with a manta ray named Willy, Terry’s story is a testament to the emotional and psychological restoration that the ocean can offer. Through the impact campaign, we aim to create pathways for more veterans to access scuba diving as a therapeutic tool. It is our belief—and our experience—that these kinds of underwater experiences can offer new beginnings and create profound changes in the world that could not have been predicted.

To support this mission, we have joined forces with our “Ocean Allies,” a coalition of dedicated partners committed to marine conservation and veteran wellness. Their work is foundational to this movement and we encourage you to explore what they do (links at the bottom). We believe that “Willy’s Legacy” should reach beyond the screen to affect real-world change. Get involved if this is as important to you as it is to us.

Get Involved

In order to give the film and the campaign the visibility they deserve, we have also taken a critical step by partnering with MPRM Communications, a leading PR firm with deep experience in independent film. Sylvia, our publicist, has been instrumental in guiding our media strategy. The response has already been encouraging. We recently completed interviews with some renowned media outlets, known for their in-depth reporting and commitment to meaningful stories.

Meanwhile, the logistical side of the premiere is taking shape. Flights are booked. Materials are being printed. Red carpet plans are being finalized. It is easy to get swept up in the excitement, but at the heart of it all remains the core purpose: to share the story of Terry and Willy with the world, and to invite others into the mystery, wonder, and urgency of the ocean. That’s why we are getting huge manta ray suits! Come get a picture with us if you see one!

Tribeca draws an extraordinary gathering of creative minds. The opportunity to meet fellow filmmakers, participate in panels and discussions, and engage with an audience of thought leaders is a rare privilege. We are eager to exchange ideas, forge connections, and learn from the experiences of others in the independent film community.

But perhaps most importantly, we are preparing to sit in a theater and experience the film with an audience for the very first time. That moment—the collective inhale as the lights go down, the silence that follows a powerful scene, the reactions that ripple through the room—is what filmmakers live for.

For anyone interested in attending our screenings, tickets are still available here.

For us, The Last Dive is a testament to connection—between species, between people, between grief and healing, between destruction and restoration. We are honored to be a part of Tribeca. We are ready to bring Willy—and everything he represents—to the world.

I hope I see you in New York.