Johannesburg – The South African short feature documentary “SPOILED” has won the “Terres de l’Ebre” Award for Best Film Promoting Sustainability.
“SPOILED” won the award at the 10th edition of the Terres Travel Festival, a leading tourism and travel film festival with a specific focus on sustainability held in Tortosa, Spain, from 12 to 18 September 2026.
Recognised as one of the festival’s two Great Awards, the accolade celebrates films that champion sustainability and inspire more responsible ways of engaging with the world.
The award marks the biggest international recognition yet for the film, which profiles the coastal communities, fishers, scientists and activists standing up to the threat of offshore oil and gas exploration along South Africa’s coastline.
“SPOILED” was selected from 157 entries submitted by the production teams from 29 countries, competing within a programme dedicated to films that champion sustainable tourism, conservation and responsible development.
It was presented as one of three “perspectives on nature conservation” at a live screening event part of the festival programme.
“SPOILED” premiered in South Africa at a high-level marine workshop in Cape Town in July 2025, unpacking preliminary findings from a WILDTRUST-led project examining the environmental, social and economic risks of offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction in South Africa.
The film takes viewers along the windswept coastline of the Northern Cape and the culturally rich Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape, revealing a simple and urgent truth: around 90% of South Africa’s mainland ocean territory is threatened by oil and gas exploration.
Through deeply personal interviews with local fishers, activists, youth and community leaders, the film uncovers the cracks in the system that allow international oil and gas giants to pursue drilling rights in South African waters.
This includes flawed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), a lack of meaningful public consultation, and the leasing of ocean space without community consent.
It is, at its heart, a story of resilience and hope: a tribute to and voice for the everyday heroes defending their livelihoods, their heritage and the ocean we all rely on.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this award for ‘SPOILED’,” said Lauren van Nijkerk, Campaigns and Communications Director at WILDTRUST.
“This film amplifies the voices of coastal communities who are too often ignored or sidelined in government-level decisions about their ocean.
“I feel incredibly privileged to produce films that help give marginalized communities – and nature itself – a voice and a meaningful say in decisions that affect their ocean, their livelihoods and, ultimately, our collective future.”
The film was produced by WILDTRUST and Love Africa Marketing, in collaboration with The Green Connection, and has already built significant momentum since its release, with more than 2 million views across social media.
It has also been screened to 20 fisher communities, reaching over 750 people across three provinces, and has won a Silver Award at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) 2026.
The “Terres de l’Ebre Award” adds a major international accolade to that growing list.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this award for SPOILED at Terres,” said Nicola Gerrard, film co-director and founder of Love Africa Marketing.
“Thank you for shining a light on this important South African story for our ocean.
“Through the power of storytelling and film, we hope to build greater public awareness, deepen understanding, and inspire people to value and support our natural heritage.
“A heartfelt thank you to our crew and partners for their incredible commitment and effort in bringing this story to the screen.”
Green Connection Spokesperson, Neville van Rooy, stated: “SPOILED comes at a critical time for South Africa.
“The Africa Energy Corporation-owned ‘Main Street 1549 Pty Ltd’ is pushing to secure Block 11b and 12b currently conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with interests in oil and gas exploration off the coast of Mossel Bay.
“This also presents an opportunity for communities and potentially impacted stakeholders to speak up for their oceans – and information on how to have your voice heard is sitting on the film’s website, stopthespoil.co.za.”
The hope is that this international honour will draw fresh global attention to the risks facing South Africa’s oceans, and to the communities most likely to be affected.
“SPOILED” is available to watch online, and the public is encouraged to explore active offshore oil and gas applications along South Africa’s coastline via the interactive platform at stopthespoil.co.za.
Watch “SPOILED”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IHo_RPkl2M
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