Private Project

Portrait of a Seaweed Farmer: Matt Obee

As climate change accelerates the collapse of marine ecosystems, engineer Matt Obee is betting his career, and his coastline, on seaweed. In Victoria, British Columbia—a place where he is raising the fourth generation of Obees that now attend the same school his grandmother did—Matt is carving out space for a new kind of coastal livelihood. Blending his background in engineering with a reverence for the water he’s always called home, he’s become a leading force in regenerative seaweed farming. Between seeding lines of kelp, pulling crab traps with his kids, and pioneering underwater camera systems to measure marine biodiversity, Matt’s story is as much about legacy as it is about innovation.

This film is part of a series funded by a grant from World Wildlife Fund, created to spotlight individuals leading the charge in ocean restoration and sustainable livelihoods. The two other films in the series are available to screen as well. You can view the films at the links below:

Ana Borrero, Phd — https://filmfreeway.com/PortraitofaSeaweedFarmerAnaBorreroPhD
Password: PoaSWF_Ana

Nick Mangini — https://filmfreeway.com/PortraitofaSeaweedFarmerNickMangini
Password: PoaSWF_Nick

  • Jeff Siebert
    Director
  • Jeff Siebert
    Writer
  • Lilah Ann Kohlman
    Producer
  • Matt Obee
    Key Cast
  • Todd Paige
    Executive Producers
  • Jeff Siebert
    Executive Producers
  • Jeff Siebert
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary Short, Environmental, Science & Nature, Human Interest, Climate Action, Sustainability, Character Portrait, Ocean Conservation, Coastal
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 9, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.4:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jeff Siebert

Jeff Siebert is an Emmy-nominated director and founder of Bananabones, a creative production company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Since launching in 2009, Jeff has led Bananabones in crafting award-winning commercials, television series, and branded short-form content for Fortune 500 companies and global organizations. His work spans 45 U.S. states and 11 countries, blending cinematic storytelling with strategic clarity across mediums.

In 2022, Jeff directed the six-episode documentary series If These Walls Could Rock for AXS TV, earning a national Emmy nomination for its compelling look into America’s most iconic music venues. His creative vision is rooted in authenticity, often spotlighting real people and places with emotional depth and visual flair. Whether he's filming in a remote fjord or a sold-out concert hall, Jeff brings a signature blend of curiosity, craft, and heart to every project.

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Director Statement

When I first met Matt, I was struck by the way he moved between worlds—with the calm of someone who belongs in all of them. He speaks the language of engineering and ocean science fluently, but there’s nothing abstract about the way he works. His hands are in the water. His kids are on the boat. His life is anchored in the same stretch of coastline where generations of his family have lived—and where the effects of climate change are no longer theoretical.

Portrait of a Seaweed Farmer: Matt Obee is, at its core, about one man’s decision to take everything he knows—systems thinking, technical expertise, deep local knowledge—and apply it to something urgent and alive. Matt didn’t walk away from engineering. He brought it with him. And in doing so, he’s helping redefine what climate solutions can look like: local, data-driven, hopeful, and human.

As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to stories that cut through the noise with clarity and heart. Matt’s story is exactly that. It’s not loud or self-congratulatory. It’s quiet, competent, and deeply committed. And in a world of big promises and slow action, that feels like exactly what we need.

—Jeff Siebert
Director, Portrait of a Seaweed Farmer