The Indian documentary Turtle Walker, directed by Taira Malaney and produced by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, has been chosen for a special screening at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which is scheduled to occur in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13. Turtle Walker details the efforts of Satish Bhaskar, a sea turtle conservationist who has dedicated decades to studying and safeguarding endangered turtles along the coastal areas and islands of India. Starting in the late 1970s, Bhaskar traveled widely to document nesting sites and gain a deeper understanding of turtle behavior, significantly contributing to the awareness of marine conservation in India. Initially envisioned as a modest independent project by a team from Goa, the film evolved over seven years into an international production. It received backing from Indian studios Tiger Baby and Emaho Films, as well as the U.S.-based HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, an Oscar-nominated organization. The documentary made its debut at the Doc NYC festival in 2024 and has since garnered numerous awards, including the esteemed Grand Teton Award at the Jackson Wild Media Awards. It has also been recognized at the Blue Water Film Festival, the International Ocean Film Festival, and Santiago Wild. The film is part of a continuing initiative focused on marine conservation.
