NEWF FILM
& dive Labs
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The aim of the NEWF Dive & Story Labs is to provide dive training and film workshops for filmmakers, storytellers and scientists in order to broaden the scope of these talented individuals by providing them with accredited diving certifications as well as and insight into the development and production of underwater films. These Labs are run in partnership with Nature Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF), who have hosted a number of Storytelling, Film & Dive Labs based in South Africa with participants from across the continent.
All participants of this Lab will also become an Ocean Ambassadors with us as well as NEWF fellows.​​
LAMU FILm & story lab
September - October 2024
​The Lamu Marine Conservation Trust and East African Ocean explorers have partnered with NEWF to host a storytelling and Film Lab leading up to the Bahari Yetu Festival. NEWF’s vision is that the Stories of Africa that celebrate and advocate for the protection of her natural history are told by a connected network of visual storytellers organically led by indigenous African voices. They do this through capacity building and skills development, covenings, knowledge sharing and film screenings. In collaboration with the National Geographic they host the program, Africa Refocused which aims to elevate African storytellers in global media and conversations about Africa, and ultimately addresses the need to refocus the stories of Africa so they are told by and from the perspective of African people.
THE LAB
During this lab 5 selected participants from the Lamu Archipelago will be tasked with producing a short film. The course will begin in September with online story development sessions and preparation for their production time in the field. The in-person workshop will be held leading up to the festival, 9th-10th October 2024, and during this time the participants will film, edit and deliver their film to be screened during the festival.
LAMU FILM & STORY LAB PARTNERS
Underwater cinematography lab
9 - 13th November 2023
It is only fitting that we held the first NEWF Underwater Cinematography Lab leading up to the opening of eKhaya. The NEWF Dive and Storytelling Centre in Sodwana, South Africa, a locally-led and managed centre that welcomes African storytellers into a space that feels like their own.
This lab was an introduction to underwater cinematography for experienced divers that had reach at least an Advanced dive level and held a minimum of 50 dives. Over 5 days Jahawi & Elke Bertolli mentored 6 fellows; Shamier Magmoet, Muha Mago, Hans Ngoteya, Tessa Barlin, Samira Vera-Cruz and Josh Oginda, from our first Kenya dive lab in 2021.
All the fellows had varying experience with cinematography and filming so instead of looking at specific cameras this lab focused on the theory and techniques involved in capturing the underwater world.
KENYA dive & story lab
3rd-13th Dec 2021
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The NEWF Dive & Story Lab | Kenya is a partnership between NEWF and East African Ocean Explorers made possible with support from the National Geographic Society.
We selected 4 individuals to be involved in a 10 day Underwater Lab held in the Watamu Marine National Park & Reserve with Aqua Venture Diving. During this Lab the participants will undergo both Open Water and Advance Dive certification.
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This lab plans to give these individuals the skills and dive training to start thinking about telling ocean stories to help conserve and protect our coastline alongside highlighting issues it faces. As our team members have a wealth of experience in their respective fields this creates a great opportunity for shared discussions, skill sharing and debate about current issues facing the oceans. During the evenings we will reflect on the Lab, arrange conversations with mentors in the field of ocean story telling, have ocean film screenings, and hold film workshops with a strong focus on story development and pre-production.
SUE KIHIA WACHIA
Sue is a marine environmentalist, photographer, and upcoming filmmaker who is a research intern at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute working with ecosystem and community focused research. She is passionate about advancing ocean conservation through showcasing inspiring stories from and about Kenya’s marine realm.
HASSAN MBALE MACHAFU
Committed to conservation and Kenya, Hassan has been employed at the Kenya Wildlife Service since 2014. He is a currently working as a Marine Ranger at Watamu Marine National Park and is determined to learn to dive in order protect Africa’s oceans and marine life.
MEET THE fellows
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NORAH ROTICH
Norah is a photographer and conservation storyteller based in Nairobi, Kenya with a background in film and communication. She is a Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (Wild Women Media Lab) fellow, African Conservation Voices fellow. She is currently collaborating with other storytellers to create conservation content that will inspire conservation action across all ages and races.
She always had a keen interest in wildlife and environment conservation and is using her storytelling skills to create an impact by creating awareness on those issues. She hopes to inspire people from her community, especially the younger generation and continent at large to take an active role in telling conservation stories and play a part in protecting and preserving our wildlife and its habitat.
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JOSHUA OGINDA ABEL
Joshua graduated from the University of Eldoret in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management. His undergraduate courses primarily focused on biodiversity, wildlife, water resources and project management among other related subjects. In February 2020, he joined the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) for a research internship. He also participated in projects managed by KMFRI partners such as The Nature Conservancy and the Northern Rangelands Trust on projects aimed at environmental conservation and marine life restoration. For the past two years, he has gained important skills, knowledge and experience in the conservation and restoration of marine resources including coral reefs and mangroves. Currently, he is seeking work opportunities to continue with the work of protecting and managing natural resources.
