Neah Bay: Restoring Ancestral Waters
For thousands of years Makah Tribal fishermen like Robert Moss hunted for traditional foods in the waters of Washington's Neah Bay. But today thousands of tons of marine debris literally loom over the Makah Tribe's ancestral waters, threatening to choke the waters that sustained these self-described ocean hunters' families for generations - including a dystopian 3,000-ton piece of concrete-and-steel highway bridge abandoned decades ago. It's a daily reminder of the potentially toxic waters plaguing this small fishing community. In this story of environmental and social justice, a coalition of motivated Tribal leaders and organizations works together in a spectacle of mechanical and human determination to demolish, remove, and recycle the massive decaying highway fragment and abandoned vessels of Neah Bay, to restore healthy waters and traditional foods to the Makah community.
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Nancy DonnellyDirectorLSD & the Psychedelic Revolution, America's National Parks, Egypt Underworld, Inside the American Mob, Powering the Future, Hogzilla, Is It Real, Six Degrees
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Nancy DonnellyWriterLSD & the Psychedelic Revolution, America's National Parks, Inside the American Mob, Egypt Underworld, Powering the Future, Hogzilla, Is It Real, Six Degrees
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Nancy DonnellyProducerLSD & the Psychedelic Revolution, America's National Parks, Inside the American Mob, Egypt Underworld, Powering the Future, Hogzilla, Is It Real, Six Degrees
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Howard ShackEditor
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Howard ShackDirector of Photography
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Project Type:Documentary, Short, Web / New Media
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Genres:Environmental, Indigenous, Food, Nature, Climate, Fisheries
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Runtime:14 minutes 26 seconds
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Completion Date:March 14, 2025
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Production Budget:30,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Catalina Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
September 25, 2025
Official Selection -
Gig Harbor Film FestivalGig Harbor
United States
September 26, 2025
Official Selection -
Marina Del Rey International Film FestivalCulver City
United States
June 20, 2025
Best Cinematography in a Short Documentary -
San Antonio Film Festival 2025San Antonio
United States
July 27, 2025
Nominee, Best Short Film -
East Village New York Film FestivalNew York
United States
July 27, 2025
Honorable Mention -
Grand Rapids Film FestivalGrand Rapids
United States
September 19, 2025
Official Selection -
One Ocean Film Tour
United States
Official Selection -
Mesa International Film FestivalMesa, AZ
United States
August 20, 2025
Official Selection -
Eugene Environmental Film FestivalEugene
United States
October 13, 2025
Official Selection -
UrbanFest 360 Orlando 2025Orlando
United States
September 20, 2025
Official Selection -
South Film and Arts Academy Festival 2025Rancagua
Chile
June 17, 2025
Winner - Best Director, Best Short Documentary, Best Cinematography -
Athens International Monthly Art Film FestivalAthens
Greece
May 31, 2025
Honorable Mention
Nancy Donnelly is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker with deep experience in visual storytelling and mission-driven engagement. In a career that's taken her to the far corners of the earth for National Geographic and other clients, Donnelly leads every step of production - from story development, budgeting, pre-production planning, field production, editing, writing, and post, with a unique knack for breaking down complex ideas and information into compelling visual content that wins awards, drives engagement, and sometimes goes viral. Conversely, she is a storyteller who can tease out the larger meaning and relevance of simple stories, to create inspirational content.
I was so inspired by the story of the Makah Tribe of Neah Bay, and their determination to thrive amid social and environmental threats to their traditional practices and their spiritual connection to the ocean. I'm honored to have received the access I needed to tell their story, and the story of the partners who helped them achieve their goal of a clean Neah Bay.