Private Project

Portrait of a Seaweed Farmer: Nick Mangini

In the rugged waters off Kodiak, Alaska, longtime fisherman Nick Mangini faces a stark reality: traditional fisheries are vanishing. In Portrait of a Seaweed Farmer: Nick Mangini, Nick shares his unlikely journey from cod fisherman to pioneering kelp farmer, driven by a desire to give back to the ocean that sustained his livelihood. What began as a chance discovery through his wife’s radio show evolved into Alaska’s first commercial seaweed harvest. As Nick grows his mariculture business, he fights to create new opportunities for his family and his community — while using kelp’s restorative power to combat the climate crisis. Both intimate and urgent, Nick’s story captures resilience, innovation, and the profound connection between people and place.

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 — https://filmfreeway.com/PortraitofaSeaweedFarmerAnaBorreroPhD
Password: PoaSWF_Ana

Matt Obee — https://filmfreeway.com/PortraitofaSeaweedFarmerMattObee
Password: PoaSWF_Matt

  • Jeff Siebert
    Director
  • Todd Paige
    Executive Producer
  • Jeff Siebert
    Executive Producer
  • Lilah Ann Kohlman
    Producer
  • Nick Mangini
    Key Cast
  • Jeff Siebert
    Writer
  • Tyler Boyd
    Editor
  • Jeff Siebert
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Short, Environmental, Character Portrait, Biography, Ocean Conservation, Sustainability, Climate Change, Coastal
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 9, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • 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

Nick Mangini’s story represents a critical transition that many fishermen may need to make in the face of climate change and collapsing fisheries. As a seasoned fisherman turned seaweed farmer, Nick embodies a path forward — one rooted in resilience, adaptation, and deep respect for the ocean. Nick embodies the rugged joy and quiet resilience of Alaska's coastal communities through his sharp wit, contagious laugh, and a serious bowling game.

Nick’s story is about far more than kelp. It’s about what happens when a way of life starts slipping away — and the kind of person who refuses to let go without fighting for his way of life. His journey into kelp farming is scrappy, heartfelt, and occasionally hilarious, full of moments like Thursday night men’s league, which reminds us that the spirit of a place isn’t just in its landscapes, but in its people.

We were drawn to Nick not just because he’s helping pioneer a sustainable industry, but because he does it with humility, humor, and a deep love for his family and hometown. Through him, we see what it means to move forward — not just for survival, but for legacy. This film is both a tribute to Nick and a glimpse into the kind of future that’s possible when local communities band together, adapt and thrive.