PRESS RELEASE Kaushiik Subramaniam

MY HERO is happy to announce that award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker Kaushiik Subramaniam has been named a finalist for the 2026 Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award for his short film “Peixinho.” The film follows Bento Nhumassua on the beaches of Jangamo, Mozambique, tracing his journey from a child nearly lost to the ocean to a swimming instructor and master diver helping others overcome the same fears he once faced.

Image from "Peixinho"Courtesy of Kaushiik Subramaniam

Subramaniam, a professional wildlife photographer and filmmaker with an MSc in wildlife conservation, began work on “Peixinho” in 2022 after leaving his full-time job earlier that year to pursue photography and filmmaking full-time. Though he had previously collaborated with organizations such as the BBC Natural History Unit and several conservation NGOs, “Peixinho” marked his first attempt at directing a human-focused documentary.

“I usually document wildlife-focused stories,” Subramaniam said in a statement to MY HERO. “But when I heard about Bento’s journey, I knew I had to document and share it.”

The story came to him through Love The Oceans, a grassroots marine conservation organization working in Jangamo Bay to protect marine ecosystems through research, education and diving. Through the organization’s swimming program, Nhumassua learned how to swim safely and eventually became an instructor himself.

“Bento’s story is one that I have seen across the world during my travels, and it resonated with me so strongly,” Subramaniam explained. “I felt that I needed to share it with the world so that others in similar situations can draw inspiration from Bento’s journey.”

Produced on a budget of roughly $3,500 — funded primarily through a $3,000 storytelling grant, as well as $500 from the filmmaker’s own pockets — the film was shot and produced almost entirely by Subramaniam alone alongside a “small and inexperienced team.”

One major challenge faced by the production were the treacherous waters off Mozambique. “The ocean conditions in Mozambique can be quite wild and unpredictable at times,” Subramaniam said. “From beautifully calm seas with perfect visibility to a washing machine in the blink of an eye.”

Courtesy of Kaushiik SubramaniamImage from "Peixinho"Completing the film under such conditions, he said, became one of the film’s greatest successes.

Since premiering in 2022, “Peixinho” has earned selections and awards at more than twenty film festivals worldwide. Subramaniam believes the documentary’s strength lies in how it reframes the relationship between coastal communities and the sea.

“I feel that ‘Peixinho’ really showcases the ocean as a place of wonder, and something to love and revere, as opposed to a source of fear,” he said. “To me, the importance of the film is that it shows the next generation in Jangamo, Mozambique that it is possible to love and enjoy the ocean safely.”

Following the success of “Peixinho,” Subramaniam said he plans to continue exploring the relationship between people and the ocean. “I definitely got a bit of a bug for human-ocean films,” he said to MY HERO. He is currently developing a new documentary centered on a conservationist in the Maldives working to restore damaged coral reefs.

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.