Directors/Producers: Addie Knoll

Description:

The film follows marine biologists from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme as they study and track endangered whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. Through field research and close encounters in the water, the film explores how these animals are identified, monitored and protected. Set against a growing tourism industry, the film examines the complex relationship between people and the ocean–where moments of amazement and curiosity intersect with the challenges of conservation. Through the perspective of a young filmmaker, it captures both the scale of these animals and how human presence can impact their world.

Biography:

Addie Knoll is a high school filmmaker from Park City, Utah. Her debut film, Constellations of the Sea, documents her field research on whale shark populations in the Maldives while working with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme. The film was recognized at the 2026 Grand Cine Carnival Maldives and has since received multiple awards and screened at film festivals across four continents for its exploration of conservation, tourism and marine science. She is interested in the intersection of science, storytelling and environmental conservation.

Contact Information:

e: constellationofthesea@gmail.com 
w: www.constellationsofthesea.com