Lara Rose Gribbin is a Finalist

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Abigail Richardson
Editor
The MY HERO Project
[email protected]

MY HERO is proud to announce that wildlife conservation undergraduate Lara Rose Gribbin has been named a student finalist for the 2026 Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award for her short documentary “The Reserve.” The film explores the thriving marine ecosystem of Cabbage Tree Bay near Sydney, Australia, and the diverse community that has formed around its protected waters.

Image from "The Reserve"Courtesy of Lara Gribbin

Gribbin’s connection to the area is deeply personal. Having grown up in Sydney’s northern suburbs, she’s always been close to Cabbage Tree Bay and the nearby Manly Beach. The Bay was one of the first places she ever snorkeled. Over the years, she cultivated close relationships with the local ocean enthusiasts who frequent the reserve, which would be essential for the film.

“Manly provides a really good example of flourishing marine reserves in an area so highly populated and close to the city, showing how these places can still be full of life even when in such close proximity to humans,” Gribbin said in a statement to MY HERO.

Image from "The Reserve"Courtesy of Lara GribbinCurrently studying marine science at the University of Sydney, Gribbin created “The Reserve” during her final year of high school as a way to showcase her view of the ocean and the importance in protecting it. Previously a photographer, filmmaking was new territory for her after discovering her passion for underwater cinematography. 

“One of the challenges when creating the film was learning how to film cinematic shots underneath the water,” she explained, “but overtime I learnt to love filming underwater and capturing the marine world from another angle.”

Gribbin credits pioneering Australian conservationist and underwater filmmaker Valerie Taylor as one of her biggest inspirations, saying Taylor’s advocacy for marine reserves and ocean protection as particularly influential in shaping her own perspective on conservation filmmaking.

“The Reserve” was cobbled together on a small budget, borrowed camera equipment, and dwindling time. Production of it stretched across multiple seasons, though Gribbin stated she sees this as a “blessing in disguise” as it allowed her to capture the fluctuating variety of marine life in the bay.

Established as an aquatic reserve in 2002, the beauty of Cabbage Tree Bay has made it one of Australia’s most celebrated marine environments. Its rich and vibrant biodiversity has made it popular among snorkelers, scuba divers, swimmers, and underwater photographers. In “The Reserve,” Gribbin captures vivid underwater scenes teeming with marine life while focusing on the personal stories of people connected to the bay.

Rather than centering the documentary solely on environmental destruction or climate anxiety, Gribbin intentionally chose a more hopeful approach.

“Overall I just wanted to show people the beauty that is within our oceans,” she said. “This film wasn’t about the destruction occurring within our oceans such as pollution or is overfishing, but made to highlight how our oceans thrive if we protect them.”

That perspective also shaped the film’s human-centered storytelling. Through the experiences of three individuals from different backgrounds, “The Reserve” examines how personal relationships with the ocean can inspire stewardship and conservation.

“I think that to make meaningful changes in ocean conservation you need to help develop a relationship with the ocean and the individual,” Gribbin said. “Communities and individuals are the ones with the power to make changes to help conserve our oceans.”

Image from "The Reserve"Courtesy of Lara Gribbin

Looking ahead, Gribbin hopes to continue documenting Australia’s coastal ecosystems through film. Her next project may focus on marine environments that lack the protections afforded to Cabbage Tree Bay, particularly areas affected by heavy fishing and environmental degradation.

She has expressed interest in documenting Bongin Bongin Bay at Mona Vale Basin, where community-led groups have been advocating for the creation of a marine reserve similar to the one that transformed Cabbage Tree Bay.

Watch "The Reserve" HERE.

MY HERO Ocean-Minded Films Screening To Be Held At Rivian Laguna

Join MY HERO for a World Oceans Day celebration featuring a special screening of winning short films from the 2026 Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award. Filmmakers and award presenters will be on hand at this special event and local organizations will be recognized for their work in protecting our oceans.  

Saturday, June 6, 2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Films start at 7:00pm

Rivian South Coast Theater
162 South Coast Highway,

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Ocean-minded nonprofits are welcome to participate in the June 6th event. Email [email protected] for information. 

About the Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award

MacGillivray-Freeman Films Educational Foundation’s One World One Ocean Campaign sponsors the ‘Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award’ annually at the MY HERO International Film Festival. One World One Ocean is a global non-profit campaign designed to connect people emotionally to the world's ocean. Their mission is to raise awareness of ocean degradation, to inspire audiences through cinematography and to spark a global movement to protect our seas.

Sylvia Earle is a world-renowned oceanographer, explorer, author, lecturer, leader, and research scientist who has led more than 70 expeditions, logging more than 6,500 hours underwater. Formerly chief scientist of NOAA and now a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, she was awarded the 2009 TED Prize for her proposal to establish a global network of marine protected areas, called “hope spots.”

“Sylvia Earle is our ocean hero,” said Greg MacGillivray, Chairman of MacGillivray Freeman Films, “and we hope this award inspires aspiring filmmakers to shine a spotlight on other dedicated people from all walks of life who are working tirelessly on behalf of our oceans."

Read more about the award, and its sponsors, here.

To see previous winners of the MY HERO Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award, or enter for 2027, go to: myhero.com/sylvia-earle-ocean-conservation-award

About the MY HERO International Film Festival:

The MY HERO Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films that celebrate the power of the human spirit. The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.