A South African short film has made headlines on the world stage, winning Gold at the prestigious 2025 International Tourism Film Festival Africa ITFFA, celebrated on World Ocean Day, Cape town Etc reports.
Titled Caleb: Beyond the Bite , this conservation film, produced by Wildtrust in collaboration with Love Africa Marketing, was released just a year ago but has already garnered significant acclaim, making it the fourth festival to recognise its compelling narrative.
With over 450 entries from around the globe, the ITFFA culminated in a glamorous red carpet event held at the Hotel Sky in Sandton, Johannesburg. The award signifies not just artistic brilliance but also a powerful message about ocean conservation that resonated with judges and audiences alike.
This film was truly inspirational, It delivered a very strong and necessary message that resonated deeply with our judges and attendees of the film festival, remarked ITFFA Festival Organiser Caroline Ungersbock.
At the heart of Caleb: Beyond the Bite is para-athlete, actor, and shark bite survivor Caleb Swanepoel. The film chronicles his emotional return to the ocean, a poignant journey where he once again swims with sharks, the very species that changed his life irreversibly in 2015.