ZERO Climate Cinema Presents: My Octopus Teacher

My Octopus Teacher Follows the Story of the Year Craig Foster Spent With a Wild Octopus

Craig Foster, suffering from a loss of purpose, begins a daily diving regimen in the freezing kelp forests at the tip of Africa in order to re-energize himself. What he discovers below the water’s surface is a totally alien motivation in the form of an unusually curious octopus. This beautiful record of an animal’s entire life—something seldom achieved in the wild, let alone underwater—was shot over a full year and explores the habits and personality of a strange, undulating creature that most of us have only ever eaten.

Beyond intelligent, dextrous and resilient, the cephalopod shares her secret world with Foster as they develop a touching bond. The underwater encounters are literally breathtaking as Foster holds his breath while interacting with the octopus. An immersive portrait of human–animal understanding, brimming with danger, drama and devastating emotion, My Octopus Teacher grabs you with all eight arms and changes its camouflage—showing you colours and textures you’ve never seen before.

My Octopus Teacher has met with critical acclaim since it's release in 2020, including winning the 2021 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. ZERO Climate Cinema are thrilled to be screening such a prestigious film, which will be followed by a discussion.