WINNER OF “Best Cinematography in a Documentary Feature // Tribeca 2025”
Something magical happened in New York.
On the surface, The Last Dive came to Tribeca as an ocean adventure—a documentary about friendship and one man’s quest to reunite with a manta ray named Willy. But what happened over the course of our week at the festival was bigger than we could have imagined.
We saw crowds moved to tears. We heard laughter ripple through packed theaters. We watched Terry Kennedy—our diver, our star—find a new understanding of his story. We even saw manta rays in tuxedos walking the red carpet. (More on that in a minute.)
And then, The Last Dive was honored with Best Cinematography in a Documentary Feature—a recognition that celebrates the care, beauty, and boldness with which our team brought this underwater world to the screen. See all the winners here.
Here’s a closer look at an unforgettable week.
TERRY’S STORY—ON THE BIG SCREEN, IN FRONT OF THE WORLD
If you’ve followed The Last Dive, you know that Terry Kennedy has lived many lives. He’s a Vietnam veteran, a Hell’s Angel, a deep-sea diver. But watching his life projected on a towering screen in a sold-out Manhattan theater—for him that was something entirely new.
Terry was emotional at every screening. You could see it in his posture, in his voice when he spoke to the audience, and in the way he lingered by the lobby doors afterward, shaking every hand he could. This was the culmination of years of filming and reflection. For Terry, it was also a mirror—one that helped him recognize just how much his life, and his unlikely friendship with Willy, has meant to people.
Hundreds of people came up to him to say just that. He mattered. His story touched them. And for many, it inspired something deeper—a connection to the ocean, to manta rays, and to find their own personal purpose.
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TRIBECA HIGHLIGHTS: SCREENINGS, CELEBRATIONS, AND MANTA RAYS IN TUXEDOS
The official Tribeca screenings were a whirlwind. The audience engagement was electric. One moment they’d be laughing with Terry, the next holding their breath beneath the waves. It was the kind of reception every filmmaker dreams of—authentic, emotional, and full of energy.
Among the best surprises?
Our crew of walking, dancing, red-carpet-working manta rays.
Yes—actual human-sized manta ray costumes. They showed up at every major event, drawing cameras, fans, and even a special mention by Tribeca. At one point, I looked up and saw a manta ray posing for selfies with a line of people wrapped around the theater lobby. Another time, at the Patagonia screening, I captured a hilarious video of them shopping when they thought they weren’t being observed. The sight of these giant, goofy ocean ambassadors beside Terry was almost too much to handle.
They brought joy. They brought visibility. And they reminded everyone—this film may deal with environment issues, but it’s also filled with life, humor, and wonder.
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WINNING BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Tribeca jury honored The Last Dive with its Best Cinematography in a Documentary Feature—and it’s hard to overstate how much that means to us.
Chance Falkner and Johnny Friday worked in some of the world’s most remote, harsh, and beautiful conditions to capture this story. We filmed in the open ocean, deep underwater, remote islands, and in speakeasy bars. We chased shafts of sunlight through underwater towers of rock and thousands of feet in the air with our squadron of drones.
The award is a tribute to those efforts. But more than that, it’s a signal—to potential audiences, —that this story deserves to be seen in all its cinematic depth and visual poetry.
BEYOND TRIBECA: SPECIAL EVENTS AND GLOBAL IMPACT
In addition to our official festival screenings, we hosted a series of special events across New York. Each one helped grow the film’s reach and deepen its message:
- A packed screening at Patagonia’s Brooklyn store, followed by a Q&A on ocean storytelling and resilience.
- A deeply moving event at the New York Aquarium, surrounded by marine biologists and important conservation leaders.
- A landmark screening at the United Nations, where international policymakers and conservation leaders watched Terry’s story unfold and began conversations about integrating the film into global marine conservation efforts like CITES CoP, which aims to provide needed Appendix I protections for Mantas. They provided appendix II protections in 2014.
Since then, Patagonia has invited us to screen the film at their Los Angeles headquarters, with plans to bring it to other stores across the country.
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At the NYC Aqaurium! What a backdrop!
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A packed screening at the Patagonia Brooklyn store.
PRESS COVERAGE & PUBLIC RESPONSE
The press response to The Last Dive has been phenomenal. Highlights include:
- The Guardian, calling the film “a profound glimpse at a shared bond”
- Outside Magazine, praising it as “The reason why the mantas are still there is because of [Terry]. It just shows what one person can do.”
- Unseen Films says, "This is just magnificent filmmaking"
- Variety, Deadline, and more
- And a forthcoming feature from AARP, focusing on Terry’s age-defying return to the sea.
Media coverage will continue to roll out over the next few weeks. We’ll post a full roundup at www.thelastdivefilm.com.
FESTIVAL INVITATIONS & WHAT’S NEXT
Following Tribeca, we’ve received multiple invitations from festivals across the country and internationally. Our calendar is filling fast, and we’re working to make the film available in as many cities—and eventually as many homes—as possible.
We’re also in discussions with streaming platforms about a future digital release to bring The Last Dive to a wide, global audience as soon as possible.
More updates coming soon.
THE IMPACT: MORE THAN JUST A FILM
What’s happening now is bigger than us. The Last Dive is sparking conversations—not just about wildlife, but about aging, “blue therapy” for veterans, and our fragile connection to the wild world around us.
We made this film to honor a relationship that defied logic—a bond between a man and a manta ray. But the response has shown us that the real power of the story is in how it connects people to universal themes we all share in our lives.
CALL TO ACTION: BE PART OF WHAT’S NEXT
Whether you’ve been following us from the beginning or you’re just diving in now—thank you. Your support has made all this possible.
Here’s how to stay involved:
- Sign up at thelastdivefilm.com to get updates on new screenings, streaming announcements, and future campaigns.
- Follow us on social media and share your favorite moments or manta ray photos with #TheLastDive.
- Invite your community—we’re planning impact screenings with schools, aquariums, and conservation groups across the U.S.
- Tell Terry’s story. Because when people hear about it from you, there’s no better way to encourage them to watch it.
FINAL THOUGHT
Tribeca was more than a festival. It was a celebration of everything we’ve poured into this film—and a glimpse of the wave that’s still building.
We showed up with a heartfelt story about the sea, a man in search of a friend, and a few manta rays in costume. We left with new allies, a major award, and momentum that’s still picking up speed.
Stay tuned. More screenings. More awards. And, very soon, news about where you’ll be able to watch The Last Dive from home.
In the meantime, if you see a six-foot manta ray on a sidewalk near you—say hi. They’ve earned it.
— Cody
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Director and Terry