Film by Seatrees + Impact Media Lab; Executive Producers: Kika Tuff, Michael, Stewart, Kevin Whilden, Alena Riggs; Cinematographers: Matthew Talarico & Anna Sagatov; Editor: Matthew Talarico; Director: Michael Stewart | 2025 | 9 min.
2026 Official Selection
Kelp forests are vital ocean ecosystems, but their ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide remains virtually unknown. Kelp Currency features groundbreaking research from the Seatrees Kelp Carbon Science Project and Scripps Institution of Oceanography to measure the carbon benefits of kelp forests. Their goal is to develop a way to track kelp carbon budgets, with the hopes of unlocking new finance tools that could provide the missing funding needed to restore kelp forests globally. With up to 90% of California’s kelp forests lost in some areas, the film reiterates that now is the time to invest in science that could help fund large-scale restoration efforts.

| March 7, 2026 | San José | CA | Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship |
Impact Media Lab is a women-led production company founded by PhD-level scientists. We collaborate with scientists around the world to create multimedia storytelling campaigns that inspire curiosity, empathy, and action. We focus on human-driven stories that reveal the adventure, humor, and creativity it takes to discover new things about our planet.