This article is part of the introductory editorial series of the ONA Short Film Festival. On September 5, 6, and 7, the Venetian island of San Servolo will showcase stories about outdoor sports, nature, and environmental awareness. Once again, we will be proud Media Partners of this wonderful event dedicated to the seventh art.

 Imagine white sails on a blue ocean. In this evocative image lies the essence of 11th Hour Racing, a multifaceted brand dedicated to preserving the ocean and our planet. Founded in 2010 by Wendy Schmidt, Jeremy Pochman, and Rob MacMillan, 11th Hour Racing seeks to change perceptions of one of the greatest problems for today and tomorrow by inspiring, supporting, and telling stories of innovation, solutions, and righteous figures working hard to improve ocean health. Rebalancing our relationship with the ocean is not a luxury but a primary necessity, warns 11th Hour Racing. They work to communicate the urgency for implementing practices that will bring improvements on a global scale now, not tomorrow. The claim ‘The Clock is Ticking’ will also accompany an 11th Hour Racing delegation at the ONA Short Film Festival, where the American-born brand will elevate its messages through one of its most valuable outputs, visual storytelling.

Let’s listen to the voices of Alessandra Ghezzi and Corinna Halloran, Vice President of Communications & Marketing and Creative Projects Manager of 11th Hour Racing.

How would you describe your role within 11th Hour Racing, and what’s the current state of your virtuous brand?

Alessandra Ghezzi: “Working for 11th Hour Racing is a real pleasure because we all feel like we have a purpose, and having a purpose in everything we do makes a real difference. Since 2010, the brand has evolved exponentially; today, we sponsor events, individuals, and teams but we don’t sell products. Our goal is to inspire change for the health of our planet. We want people to understand that actions matter and that everyone can be a bearer of positive change in their community, which will, consequently, trigger an ethically sound global process. We promote local solutions to a global problem: the health of our ocean. In addition to sponsorships, we also have a robust international philanthropic program divided into three areas. The first is related to ocean literacy and stewardship. We work a lot with the younger generations, often using sailing to connect marginalized communities with the ocean and issues of its health. The second area is non-polluting technologies and best practices. We implement sustainability operations in national and international events like The Ocean Race. The third area of our philanthropic work is dedicated to the restoration of damaged ecosystems through nature-based solutions. Our ambassadors are central to all these programmatic areas; athletes and creatives who share our ideals and help spread them. Initially, there were just sailors; now our line-up includes artists, photographers, musicians, surfers, freedivers, sports commentators, activists, science communicators, glaciologists, and more. We’re trying to get people to understand that the health of the ocean depends on everyone and that it really starts on land. Leveraging people’s passions helps transfer that passion for the ocean and the environment because we all protect what we love. In the end, the ocean connects us all.”

Corinna Halloran: “Storytelling is crucial for 11th Hour Racing because it creates an emotional connection to who we are and what we do. It has to be strategic because we don’t want to be throwing content into a vacuum. We want to create projects that help our ideals connect with people and inspire the audience. Our ambassador program is vital in this respect because it shows the authenticity of our brand and conveys essential messages through real stories. It is an honor for me to be able to tell them and know the kind of impact they have.  Bringing to life the stories of these incredible individuals can change lives and instill hope. Our goal is to show the sense of urgency for ocean health. We’ll be bringing two films to ONA, ‘Rhythm of Water,’ part of the expanded ‘Shaped by Water’ project, and ‘Between Waves.’ We’re really excited because festivals like ONA allow us to amplify 11th Hour Racing’s vision and physically connect with new people— all through storytelling. We won’t be producing Marvel films anytime soon, but we always try to be authentic, tell stories about real people, and, at the same time, let the protagonists do the talking. That way, we can create change and have a real impact.”

‘The Clock is Ticking’. What does this mean for 11th Hour Racing and how do you convey such relevant themes to future generations?

Alessandra Ghezzi: “It’s a concept that connects to our brand’s very name and conveys the sense of urgency we were talking about earlier. The 11th Hour is the last hour on the clock when action must be taken. I firmly believe that the younger generations care about the environment and see it as a priority. By the same token, I think we’re burdening them with so much responsibility, and, in the end, they’ll be handling the problems that previous generations, like mine, created. It’s a painful thought, but at the same time, being aware of our collective responsibility makes me feel hopeful. Organizations and brands like 11th Hour Racing are born exactly from this sense of shared responsibility and exist precisely to educate, raise awareness, and call people to action. We show our films to children and students, who immediately understand the importance of these issues. When it comes to climate change, the narrative tends to be dark, gloomy, and exasperating. It makes you feel helpless. We’re trying to change that by building a better future through the power of sports and the arts. Inclusiveness is at the heart of our projects, and all of our projects  help us make an impact on multiple levels, not just the environment.”

Sponsorship and support for sports organizations are often connected with success and victories. Is this also the case for you? 

Alessandra Ghezzi: “Until recently, winning was extremely important to 11th Hour Racing. For example, our team’s triumph in the last Ocean Race was a goal we all shared. We wanted to show that victory and sustainability can go hand in hand. There’s still a belief in sports that being sustainable means compromising performance. It doesn’t. In fact, if you’re sustainable, you can win and even gain some economic benefits in the long-run. After winning The Ocean Race, we updated our strategy. I’m not saying that winning has stopped being important for 11th Hour Racing, but the focus has shifted slightly as we started to ask ourselves “What does winning really mean to us?”. We now sponsor professional sailor Francesca Clapcich and a womens offshore sailing academy led by her. Promoting underrepresented categories doesn’t need to be only about winning trophies. It’s about representation and inclusiveness and the need and desire to create a safe, welcoming space for everyone, where everyone belongs and is treated equally.”

Corinna Halloran: “When you’re in the ‘game’ of ocean preservation, I think immediate gratification isn’t necessary. It’s about the long-term, and it’s critical to inspire hope in the people we work with and in those watching. Athletes need to pull themselves out of a mindset that’s just about sports and become aware of the ‘big picture.’ Are they ethically committed? Do they have an attitude that matches 11th Hour Racing? These are the main questions we need to ask ourselves. This ‘big picture’ is holistic and, in my opinion, essential for us as a brand. Because that is the only way that stories succeed in creating a legacy and a long-lasting impact, both on people and the environment.”

Can you tell us about the films you’ll be presenting at the ONA Short Film Festival? 

Corinna Halloran: “There are two films. ‘Rhythm of Water’ is an artistic, love letter to the ocean. We filmed it through the lens of three professional athletes who, in theory, are pretty different from each other. A freediver, a free skier, and a sailing team bring the natural water cycle to life and show how our actions on land impact the ocean. There is no dialogue, and the music was composed by musicianTodd Hannigan (who is also an 11th Hour Racing ambassador). It’s a beautiful, meditative film. Then we have ‘Between Waves,’ which focuses on the life of Francesca Clapcich. The film tells her personal story, taking us through her childhood, and her sailing career so far. It also speaks about her love for the mountains and her relationship with 11th Hour Racing, emphasizing our shared effort to bring diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to the world of sailing to diversity. We look forward to being in Venice and sharing our vision with the participants and audience at ONA.”

 Visit onafilmfestival.com for more information and to participate in this inspiring event.