Project | Surfrider Foundation
Environmental Campaign Film
The non-profit organization advocates for ocean and environmental protection through positive, community-driven activism.
One of Surfrider’s campaigns, “Kippen nicht schnippen” (“Don’t flick your cigarette butts”), focuses on reducing cigarette butt pollution and raising public awareness.
As part of my Bachelor’s thesis, I developed and produced an environmental campaign film for Surfrider Foundation Hamburg, exploring how storytelling can drive environmental awareness and behavioral change.
About the Brand Surfrider Foundation
About the Brand Surfrider Foundation
To create a film that not only informs but actively motivates audiences to adopt more environmentally responsible behavior, using storytelling as a tool for engagement.
The project combined academic research with hands-on production, translating insights from environmental communication, narrative persuasion, and documentary filmmaking into a real-world campaign film.
Goal of this Project
Led the project end-to-end: concept development, production planning, and execution
Designed the film strategy based on academic literature and media theory
Organized and coordinated a dedicated campaign event as part of the production
Collaborated with the Surfrider Foundation and managed all on-site productio
Directed, filmed, and edited the final documentary
My Role
My Role
Outcome
The result is a 6.5-minute documentary campaign film that guides viewers from awareness to action , built on relatable characters, documentary-style authenticity, and a careful balance between emotional engagement and practical solutions. Scientific data was woven into the visual narrative rather than presented as facts alone, creating a film that doesn't just inform, but moves people.
Inspired by the idea that no one protects what they don't care about, and no one cares about what they've never experienced.
“Iri delivered a small ‘all-round worry-free package’ for us – from the initial idea to the final short film and accompanying Instagram snippets. We were particularly pleased with the planning and execution of a small clean-up initiative, which naturally became part of the video as well. We look forward to future projects by and with Iri.”
- KC / National Coordination, Surfrider Foundation Germany
