In 2016, CINEMARE was launched under the patronage of Mayor Dr. Ulf Kämpfer, with Kiel taking a pioneering role with its motto #MarineConservationCity. The CINEMARE Marine Film Festival sees itself not only as part of its home city's maritime profile but also as an ambassador for marine conservation beyond national borders. With its three main focuses—marine conservation, science communication, and art—the festival positions itself as a significant part of the maritime heritage and a promoter of environmental protection.

 

As Northern Europe's only multi-day ocean film festival, CINEMARE is a member of the Green Film Network (GFN), an international association of currently 38 film festivals with an environmental focus. It is regionally rooted and internationally connected, as demonstrated by its official partnership with the IOFF International Ocean Film Festival San Francisco. This partnership marked the beginning of a successful cultural exchange in 2018 within the framework of the city partnership between San Francisco and Kiel. Since then, CINEMARE has also been a network partner of the German Ocean Decade Committee.

 

From the outset, CINEMARE has pursued an interdisciplinary approach, extending its reach beyond traditional cinema screens to include film screenings in museums, video art, exhibitions, and educational school screenings. Driven by the conviction that only what is valued can be protected, the festival aims to foster awareness of and love for the ocean and to encourage people to actively participate in its protection.