Documentary · WTYSL Original

George & The Whales

Director

Nessim Stevenson

Type

Documentary Short

Location

Vavaʻu, Tonga

Release

2020

About

Set in the warm waters of Vavaʻu, Tonga, George & The Whales is an intimate documentary portrait of a local whale-watching guide and the humpback whales who return each year to these islands — a reminder that protecting the natural world should not be political, but human.

Through lyrical underwater cinematography, aerial landscapes, and a meditative original score layered with real whale-song recordings, the film invites audiences to slow down, listen, and remember what is at stake.

Crew

Director & Editor

Nessim Stevenson

Underwater & Aerial Cinematography

Karim Iliya

Score

Julia Sabra & Fadi Tabbal — Tunefork

Whale-Song Recordings

Roger Payne — Ocean Alliance

An extreme close-up of a humpback whale's head and pectoral fin underwater, revealing its textured skin, barnacles, and distinctive throat pleats against deep blue water. The intimate framing captures the creature's immense scale and quiet power.

A humpback whale's long pectoral fin extends dramatically toward the camera, encrusted with barnacles and trailing a plume of bubbles toward the surface. The low-angle underwater perspective makes the moment feel both dynamic and awe-inspiring.

Two humpback whales glide in formation through clear blue water, with two sharks visible in the distance behind them. The wide underwater shot captures a rare and striking encounter between ocean giants in open water.

A humpback whale's tail fluke hangs suspended just below the shimmering ocean surface, its pale underside catching the light. The split-level perspective captures the boundary between the whale's underwater world and the air above.

Seen from above, a humpback whale calf ascends toward the surface while a larger whale rests in the deep blue below, surrounded by suspended particles. The wide, moody frame conveys the tender bond between mother and young.

Two humpback whales glide in close formation just beneath a turbulent ocean surface, their massive barnacled heads and throat pleats visible in intimate detail. The upward angle and dappled light create a powerful, immersive underwater portrait.

Shot from below, a humpback whale's head fills the lower frame as it surfaces, while a second whale glides past in the middle distance surrounded by bubbles. The vertical composition and churning surface above give the shot a dramatic sense of scale.

A humpback whale calf rolls playfully alongside a larger adult, its small pectoral fin sweeping upward near the ocean surface. The wide underwater shot captures a tender moment of companionship between the two animals.

A pale, almost white humpback whale calf swims close to the surface while a darker adult moves through the deeper water below. The contrast between the two creates a visually striking image of maternal connection.

Two humpback whales glide together through deep blue water bathed in radiating shafts of light, their white undersides luminous against the dark ocean. The ethereal, wide-angle composition evokes the quiet immensity of the deep sea.

A humpback whale approaches the camera head-on just below the ocean surface, its eye catching the light and its long pectoral fin extending downward. The wide-angle perspective creates an immersive sense of encounter with the animal.

A split-level shot captures a humpback whale's tail and dorsal fin just below a foaming ocean surface, with clouds and blue sky visible above. The composition balances the tranquil sky against the whale's powerful underwater presence.

Official Selections

Oxford International Short Film Festival '20 · International Ocean Film Festival '20 · NatureTrack Film Festival '20 · Wildlife Conservation Film Festival '20

Women's Day

UNWomen

Have an idea?Get in touch.

We exist on 5 continents with bases in New York, Barcelona, Stockholm, Baltimore, Beirut, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Nairobi, and Iceland.

For Inquiries, job applications, internships info@whattookyousolong.org

Vimeo, LinkedIn, Instagram
Privacy policy & terms of service