Hendrik S. Schmitt and Claudia Schmitt (The Jetlagged) | 45 minutes | Germany and Indonesia
* Golden Banner in Documentary Film (REAL SOCIEDAD FUNDAZIOA Award)
Awarded at other festivals: International Ocean Film Festival, International Wildlife Film Festival, CINEMARE Int'l Ocean Film Festival KIEL, 13th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, China International Green Film Week, International Underwater Film Festival Belgrade, etc. | Best Ocean Film - Wildlife and Conservation Film Festival; Nominee Best Newcomer - Green Screen International Nature Film Festival.
Jetlagged" accompanies manta ray researcher Elitza Germanov (Marine Megafauna Foundation) on a field trip to Komodo, Indonesia. The number of manta rays is declining because their gills have recently become a dubious trend in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Numerous conservation efforts are underway to protect the gentle giants of the ocean, including "citizen science" projects to identify individuals by their unique patterns of spots on their bellies. The filmmakers document the efforts of Indonesian scientists and conservationists such as Elitza Germanov and Sarah Lewis (Indonesia Manta Project / Manta Trust), who work tirelessly to save these beautiful animals from extinction.