Xposure shifts worlds view on marine life with My Octopus Teacher

Sharjah 24: Director Pippa Ehrlich and cinematographer Roger Horrocks captivated the International Photography Festival (Xposure) audiences on the weekend as they unravelled the remarkable story behind My Octopus Teacher, the Netflix production that not only transformed perceptions of marine life but also redefined the boundaries of documentary filmmaking.

Unlike most high-profile nature documentaries, My Octopus Teacher neither had a formal pitch, production deck, nor a clear roadmap. It was a film that evolved organically, born from a deeply personal experience between filmmaker Craig Foster and the mesmerising world of the South African kelp forest. “We just started creating,” Ehrlich explained. “What we ended up with on Netflix in 2020 was simply what we had made, without a grand vision of where it would go.”

Filming a living, breathing world

One of the defining aspects of My Octopus Teacher was its cinematography — intimate, immersive, and deeply personal. Horrocks described their approach as a blend of classic “Bristol-style” wildlife cinematography—made famous by Planet Earth—and Foster’s more instinctual, reportage-like shooting. “The kelp forest was our set, but it was a living, three-dimensional world,” he said. “We had to create a visual language that made audiences feel as though they were diving with Craig.”

Eighteen different cameras were used over the course of filming, capturing everything from sweeping wide shots to intimate close-ups.

At the heart of My Octopus Teacher was, of course, the octopus herself. “Octopuses are a paradox,” Ehrlich explained. “They are both incredibly intelligent and incredibly vulnerable. Their world is a constant dance between curiosity and fear.”

The film captured this delicate balance in breathtaking sequences: the octopus outwitting predators, adapting to her environment, and ultimately trusting Foster. “What made this so unique was that we were filming a relationship, not just behaviour. The octopus mirrored Craig’s own emotional journey,” Horrocks said.

Rejection to global acclaim

Despite the strength of their footage, My Octopus Teacher was initially met with resistance. “We were rejected by Netflix, Amazon, Nat Geo—everyone,” Ehrlich admitted. “We knew something was off, but we couldn’t figure out what.”

Netflix eventually picked up the film, but with little expectation. However, the response was overwhelming. My Octopus Teacher went viral, with celebrities from Jane Goodall to George Monbiot praising its raw, emotional storytelling. “Our website crashed. We just weren’t prepared for it”, Ehrlich told the rapt audience.

Then came the BAFTA win, and the Oscar.

Beyond its success, the film had a tangible impact. Foster’s NGO, the Sea Change Project, launched a global campaign to raise awareness about the world’s kelp forests, branding them “The Great African Sea Forest.” The term took hold, appearing in National Geographic, Bloomberg, and major conservation reports. “For the first time, people were recognising kelp forests as vital ecosystems,” Ehrlich said. “That was the real win.”

Now, both Ehrlich and Horrocks are applying what they’ve learned to new projects. “We’ve realised that people connect with nature through human stories,” Horrocks said.

“The best thing you can do is tell a story with all your heart. If you do that, everything else will follow,” Ehrlich added.