The Underwater Treasures of Raja Ampat

Seacology is a nonprofit whose mission is to work directly with local communities to protect threatened island ecosystems all over the world. This short film explores our win-win model by following the progress of our project in Fafanlap Village, Indonesia, to preserve the spectacular Misool region of the Raja Ampat Archipelago.

Working with our partners at the Misool Foundation, in 2011 we provided the funds for a new kindergarten in exchange for the villagers creating and patrolling a 99,583-acre no-take marine preserve. Today, the kindergarten serves double the number of original students, and the marine reserve is one of only a few places in the world where fish counts are dramatically increasing.

  • Stefan Ruenzel
    Director
  • Duane Silverstein
    Executive Producer
  • Jo Marlow
    Producer
  • Virly Yuriken
    Producer
  • Pete Fleming
    Editor
  • Pambajeng Putro Utomo
    Sound
  • Uduak Inyang
    Narrator
  • Shawn Heinrichs
    Additional Footage
  • Mark Atkinson
    Additional Footage
  • Sabine Templeton
    Additional Footage
  • Jo Marlow
    Additional Footage
  • Klarified Productions
    Additional Footage
  • Pambajeng Putro Utomo
    Additional Footage
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 8, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red Raw R3D 6k (6144 x 3240)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    17:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Stefan Ruenzel

Stefan Ruenzel is a filmmaker from Oakland, California. His work spans the narrative, documentary and experimental in pursuit of the poetry of life. Several films he's shot, including feature-length documentary "No Time to Waste" and short film "A Mi Matria" have been screened worldwide and at festivals ranging from Mill Valley to Cannes.

Early involvement in creative writing, music and theater drove him to film production at SF State, where he studied under the mentorship of the legendary indie director Larry Clark and esteemed editor of Hollywood masterpieces Pat Jackson. A boundless curiosity in humanity in nature brought documentary and narrative into a new hybrid storytelling mode as showcased on feature films such as "E14" and "My People are Rising." Stefan resisted the temptation to move to LA and stayed in Oakland to make films and TV segments about preserving culture and the environment. He would then join forces with international non-profit Seacology to tell stories of island heroes around the world. He made life-long, long-distance friendships.

Back home, Stefan enjoys strong collaborations with Bay Area filmmakers and crew. He co-founded Oakstop, a coworking and cultural center in Oakland. He enjoys teaching film to underserved youth at The Hidden Gem in Oakland. And he loves coaching his son's soccer team.

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