‘Turtle Walker’ Film on Indian Sea Turtle Conservationist World Premiere at Doc NYC

For the past 7 years, I have been working on a feature documentary called Turtle Walker. This is the story of Indian sea turtle conservationist Satish Bhaskar, who walked two-thirds of the country’s coastlines in the late 1970s, to discover and protect endangered sea turtles and their habitats. It is a story of deep wonder for the marine environment, and how one person’s singlehanded efforts sparked a movement and legacy for sea turtle conservation in the country. 

I first learned about Satish Bhaskar in an article written by the renowned herpetologist, Romulus Whitaker. I was excited, intrigued and fascinated by his story. What motivated him to live alone on uninhabited islands, with nothing but sea turtles for company? It left me curious to learn more about our nature as humans, and our relationship to the natural world. 

Finding Satish, however, proved to be more difficult than I had imagined. Much like the elusive sea turtles themselves, Satish shied away from the public eye. I realized that I would need to track him down by word of mouth. This led me to Kartik Shanker, writer of ‘From Soup to Superstar’, a book about the history of sea turtle conservation in India. Kartik gave me a phone number, which was answered by the cheerful voice of Satish’s wife, who I would soon come to know lovingly as Aunty Brenda. As it turned out, they lived just an hour’s drive from my home in Goa. 

I am not sure why Satish agreed to share his story with me that day, but he did. What unraveled next was a unique glimpse into a life full of adventure and discovery. Satish Bhaskar shared a deep wonder for the marine world. As human beings, we all share this innate curiosity to explore. It is what leads us to inquire, to learn, to experience a sense of awe, and eventually to build our empathy for the living world around us. The desire to conserve is often a positive result of this process. 

A large part of the reason I wanted to make this film is because I saw a need for stories that can renew our sense of hope and inspire collective action to protect our planet’s oceans. The message is simple – sea turtles are resilient animals. If protected, they can adapt to extreme changes in their environment. Alongside the film, we are conducting an outreach campaign in partnership with Teach For India, Dakshin Foundation and Reefwatch Foundation to introduce marine studies into the curriculum of schools across India, the designation of a critical Marine Protected Area off the coast of Maharashtra, as well as raised $300,000 for the creation of a marine megafauna rescue and rehabilitation program across the west coast of India.

For the most part of this journey, Turtle Walker was produced independently by our small crew at Emaho Films. Along the way, we are grateful to have found valuable partners with Zoya Akhtar & Reema Kagti’s Tiger Baby as well as HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, producers of the award-winning film All That Breathes. Prior to completion, the film won the prestigious Grand Teton at the Jackson Wild Media Awards, Best Natural History and Wildlife pitch at Sunny Side of the Doc, and Emerging Filmmaker Award at DocEdge Kolkata. By presenting this story on a global stage, we aim to inspire awe, wonder, and ignite meaningful dialogue about our shared oceans and the interconnectedness of our planet, mobilizing audiences to participate in its exploration and conservation.

Turtle Walker will have its world premiere at Doc NYC in-person on the 17th and 19th of November. During the festival, it will also be available to watch online all across the US. Details and tickets for the premiere and screening can be found here. 

In-Person Screening 1: Sunday, November 17, 2024 2:00 PM

Venue: Village East by Angelika

In-Person Screening 2: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 9:00 PM

Venue: IFC Center

Online Dates: Monday, November 18 – Sunday, December 01, 2024

Ticket Price: $22 in-person $15 online

About the Author:

Taira is a writer, director, and producer from Goa, India. A member of the Explorers Club 50 2023 cohort, she tells deeply moving, character-driven stories that explore the relationships between people and the natural world. Her films are developed alongside impact campaigns to address the social justice and environmental issues central to the films she creates. Taira received her B.A. in Psychology in 2013 from Occidental College, where her focus was on fostering empathy in youth. Since graduating, she has incorporated what she’s learned into the several award-winning short films that she has written and directed. Her directorial debut, Turtle Walker, just won the Grand Teton Award at the Jackson Wild Media Awards, and is set to release in the fall of 2024.