Outdoors in Mammoth

Since first being thrown overboard by his celebrated father at the age of seven with newly invented SCUBA gear on his back, Jean-Michel Cousteau has led a life synchronous with the ocean. Explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer— for more than four decades, Jean-Michel has used his vast experiences to communicate to people of all nations and generations his passion and concern for our water planet.

Cousteau’s passionate teachings about how the land and sea are connected and that humans and nature are connected inspired this year’s festival theme “Summit to the Sea - Everything is Connected.” Cousteau’s teachings integrated with the festival events will focus on how every individual - regardless of age - can make intelligent decisions that have a powerful impact on the environment.

The son of ocean pioneer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel spent much of his life with his family exploring the world's oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone. Honoring his heritage, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this legendary work, including his role as Executive Producer of Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. Jean-Michel has produced over 75 films, received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the 7 d'Or, and the Cable Ace Award, among others.

Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, functions as an ambassador for the ocean by communicating worldwide its critical bond with humanity and the importance of wise environmental policy. As Ocean Futures’ president, Jean-Michel serves as a diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media.

Traveling the globe, Jean-Michel meets with leaders and policymakers at the grassroots level and at the highest echelons of government and the private sector. He is dedicated to educating younger generations, documenting stories of change and hope, and lending his reputation and support to energize alliances for positive development.

In 2006, Jean-Michel’s initiative to protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands took him to The White House where he screened his PBS-KQED documentary, Voyage to Kure, for President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and other dignitaries. The President was inspired and in June 2006, he declared the 1,200-mile chain of islands a National Monument—the largest marine protected area in the world.

Jean-Michel has been recognized for his work with the following awards: first recipient of the Ocean Hero Award from Oceana in 2003; first person to represent the Environment in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games; Environmental Hero Award, presented by Vice President Al Gore, 1998; the Poseidon/Lifetime Achievement Award from Reef Check; appointed Global Marine spokesperson for British Virgin Islands, 2003; elected to the Global Green Board of Directors.