East to West Mediterranean Premieres in London
From the turquoise waters of Bodrum to the heart of London, EasttoWest Mediterranean made waves this week at a special screening organised by the Turquoise Coast Environment Fund – Turkey (TCEF) and the Conservation Collective (CC). The evening brought together filmmakers, scientists, and supporters united by a shared mission: protecting the Mediterranean’s underwater forests.
Directed by marine biologist Mert Gökalp, the documentary tells the story of Türkiye’s underwater forests — the seagrass meadows of Bodrum — and the growing community movement to protect them. These vital ecosystems support fisheries, absorb carbon, and keep our seas clear, yet remain under threat from coastal development, pollution, and anchor damage.
A common theme ran through the evening: collaboration is the key to ocean recovery.
From grassroots activism to business engagement and effective policy, protecting seagrass offers one of the simplest and most impactful ways to secure climate resilience, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
The evening opened with TCEF Chair Onur Eren’s inspiring remarks on initiating change, setting the tone for a lively discussion among an expert panel.
“If we save the seas, the seas will save us.” — George Duffield reminded us that ocean recovery is one of the world’s most solvable problems, capable of simultaneously securing food, livelihoods, and biodiversity.
In Mert Gökalp’s words: “When we first started Project Posidonia, I wouldn’t have believed it would one day bring us to London, meeting audiences who care deeply about ecological issues.
Our goal remains the same as when we first set out — to see Bodrum’s seagrass meadows fully protected through a Marine Protected Area status.
For TCEF, it was a proud moment to see local action in Bodrum connected with global inspiration in London — a reminder that art and science together can spark lasting change. The evening exemplified the power of cross-border partnerships — between Türkiye and the UK, between science and art, between local and global efforts to inspire lasting ocean protection.