Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Filmmaker Kate Webber should be very proud.

Among international film festivals around the world, it is rare – and possibly unprecedented – for a movie about an open water swimmer to kickoff a well-respected film festival.

But a perfect storm is apparently brewing. KIM SWIMS, the story behind the improbable rise in the global open water swimming world of native Kiwi Kimberley Chambers, is being highlighted at the International Ocean Film Festival in her adopted home of San Francisco, California.

“It our great pleasure to let you know that KIM SWIMS has been invited to be the opening night film at this year’s 15th annual festival beginning on March 8th,” says Webber, its director and film visionary.

“Not only is it a very special festival dedicated to all things ocean, but that day also happens to be International Women’s Day, a global day that celebrates the achievements of all women, and underscores the need for programs dedicated to gender parity.

The festival is the biggest of its kind in North America, featuring dozens of ocean-themed films by independent filmmakers from around the globe. All of us involved with KIM SWIMS are honored and excited that the film continues to garner interest at such strong film festivals. For those of you based in the Bay Area, tickets for our opening night screening of KIM SWIMS are available for purchase.”

Tickets generally sell out fast to the open night screening at Cowell Theater in San Francisco that includes a welcome party and film and question and answer period with the film producers and the protagonist about her swim of 30 miles from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge.

To purchase tickets, visit here.

For more information, visit oceanfilmfest.org.

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