Bluefin: The Last of the Giants
Bluefin is a tale of epic stakes set in “the tuna capital of the world,” North Lake, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Director John Hopkins explores the mystery of why normally wary bluefin tuna no longer fear humans. Tuna are so abundant now that they will precariously eat out of fishermen’s hands. One thing is certain, this sudden abundance of tuna in Canada flies in the face of scientific assessments that stocks are critically down by 90 percent.
This is a story about an extraordinary species caught between the addictive thrill of the hunt and our fear of their extinction. With stunning cinematography, Director/DP John Hopkins brings all into sharp focus.
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John HopkinsDirectorTimepiece (short doc), Portfolio (short drama), Johnston...Johnston (short drama)
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John HopkinsWriter
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Annette Clarke, Ravida DinProducer
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Project Title (Original Language):Thon Rouge
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Project Type:Documentary, Feature
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Genres:Social Justice, Environmental, Wildlife, Oceans, Food, Sustainable, Fisheries, Fishing, Sushi, nature, science
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Runtime:53 minutes 18 seconds
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Completion Date:February 1, 2017
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Production Budget:560,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:ProRes HQ
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Raindance Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
October 17, 2017
European Premiere
Nominated Best Feature Documentary -
San Francisco International Ocean Film FestivalSan Francisco
United States
March 11, 2017
The Wildlife Award -
Lunenburg DocFestLunenburg
Canada
September 23, 2016
Best Atlantic Filmmaker Award -
Santa Barbara International Film FestivalSanta Barbara
United States
February 5, 2017
US Premiere
Nominated Best Film: Social Justice Competition -
California Film AwardsSan Diego
United States
January 8, 2017
Grand Winner: Best Feature Documentary -
Yorkton Film FestivalYorkton
Canada
Nominated for Best Documentary -
Devour! Film FestivalWolfville
Canada
November 5, 2016 -
Available Light FestivalWhitehorse
Canada
February 10, 2017
Northern Canada -
Downtown Los Angeles Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
September 24, 2017 -
PEI Fim FestivalCharlottetown
Canada -
Saltspring Island Film FestivalSaltspring
Canada
Encore Screening - Audience Award -
Friday HarbourFriday Harbour
United States -
Charlottetown Film FestivalCharlottetown
Canada -
Bellville Film FestivalBellville
Canada -
Guelph Film FestivalGuelph
Canada
November 11, 2017 -
Red Rock Film FestivalCedar City
United States
November 11, 2017 -
Hot Docs: Films Changing the WorldToronto
Canada
December 19, 2017
Toronto -
New Jersey Film FestivalNew Brunswick
United States
February 9, 2018
New Jersey -
Big Sky Documentary Film FestivalMissoula
United States
February 18, 2018
Montana Premiere -
Atlantic Film Festival - FINHalifax
Canada
September 11, 2016
World Premiere -
Open World Toronto Film FestivalToronto
Canada
October 18, 2018
Nominated for Best Documentary -
Global Climate Change ConferenceSan Francisco
United States
September 13, 2018 -
Film Festival at Brown PointTacoma
United States
August 2, 2019
Friday Night Award Winner
Distribution Information
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National Film Board of Canada (Canada)Country: CanadaRights: Internet, Video on Demand, Hotel, Airline, Video / Disc
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Gravitas Ventures (International)Country: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Writer/Director/DP John Hopkins debut feature documentary BLUEFIN, produced by the NFB, is garnering international recognition winning: the Grand Award for “Best Documentary” at the 2017 California Awards, the 2017 San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival “Wildlife Award” and 2016 Lunenburg “Best Atlantic Filmmaker Award.” Out of 10,000 submissions Bluefin was Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at 2017 Raindance Film Festival and screened in Competition at the prestigious 2017 Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Social Justice Category. Other 2017 Nominations for Best Documentary include a Golden Sheaf at York and the Toronto Open Worldwide Open Film Festival. Bluefin is being distributed by the NFB and internationally by Gravitas Ventures. Previous to Bluefin, Hopkins directed and shot hid short documentary Timepiece (2010), profiling the artwork of his mother Hilda Woolnough RCA.
As a cinematographer, Hopkins has shot many doc projects including the feature doc Kitchen Goddess (NFB) and Tops and Bottoms (TVO/Arte). His cinematography (shared credit) for the genie award-winning feature doc In The Gutter and Other Good Places won Best Cinematography at Hot Docs (1993). John Hopkins' camera contributions recently helped the 3D/4K dramatic feature Forty Below win the 2016 coveted Lumiere Award in Hollywood. From the start of his filmmaking career, Hopkins gained recognition. His first short film Portfolio (1989) which he shot with a 16mm Bolex won Best Film, Best Director, Writer, Score and Editing at the Atlantic Film Festival. Currently, he is developing a new documentary for CBC’s Nature of Things which he will also shoot and direct.
Much to their peril, these magnificent creatures just do not have the same "cuddle" factor we have given land-based animals such as lions, giraffes, and panda bears, or sea mammals like seals, whales and dolphins. Bluefin are not well understood, but are the most magnificent and powerful fish on the planet. We are wired to think of them as "food," not extraordinary "wildlife."
In making my film, my goal was to find a way to shoot the tuna in a truly unique and powerful way, so we can finally “see them.” I want audiences to feel a long over-due empathy for these extraordinary giants. My cinematographic idea was to let them speak for themselves by their sheer monumental presence swimming alive in the ocean. I wanted my doc Bluefin to be emotional and accessible for broad audiences. Some people have cried near the end of the film. Others swear they will never eat sushi again. I wanted to allow audiences to access these critical issues without being didactic, over-bearing, or boring. Bluefin is a metaphorical story about humankind’s contempt and all too common ignorance of ocean wildlife. I want my doc to urge people change what we think about ourselves in a social sense. We need to recognize that when it comes to commercial fishing in open ocean, with its natural regenerative cycles and balance, we have become a terribly evasive species. Too often we are driven by short-term greed over what makes sense for our own future and the planet's.