Out of Plain Sight

Out of Plain Sight
Official poster
Directed by
  • Daniel Straub
  • Rosanna Xia
Produced by
  • Austin Straub
  • Daniel Straub
  • Rosanna Xia
CinematographyAustin Straub
Edited byAustin Straub
Music byJames Ellington
Production
companies
Distributed bySubmarine
Release date
  • November 16, 2024 (2024-11-16) (DOC NYC)
Running time
94 minutes
Country
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Out of Plain Sight is a 2024 American documentary film directed by Daniel Straub and Rosanna Xia. Produced by L.A. Times Studios, the documentary unveils the hidden environmental catastrophe just beyond Southern California's shores. It had its world premiere on November 16, 2024, at DOC NYC.[1]

The film won Audience Choice Award at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 15, 2025.[2] It also received the Shared Earth Foundation Award at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital,[3] the Best Feature award at the International Wildlife Film Festival,[4] the Special Jury Award for Environmental Justice at Mendocino Film Festival, and the Audience Award and an Honorable Mention from the jury at Berkshire International Film Festival. It was also awarded the Director's Choice Award for Fortitude in Filmmaking at the Woods Hole Film Festival.[5] Out of Plain Sight is also a finalist for two Jackson Wild Media Awards, in both the Investigative and Science & Nature categories.[6]

Summary

The subject of the documentary is UCSB professor David Valentine's discovery of toxic dumping grounds off the coast of Southern California. It follows Rosanna Xia as she investigates Valentine's initial shocking discovery and the even more alarming revelations that came afterward.[7]

Release

Out of Plain Sight premiered at the Doc NYC on November 16, 2024, in the Investigation section.[8][9] It was screened at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 7, 2025.[10]

The film also featured in Special Screening – Opening Night at the 31st Slamdance Film Festival on February 20, 2025 in the Spotlight Features.[11]

It closed the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, held in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2025.[12]

The film has screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Miami Film Festival, the International Wildlife Film Festival, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, the Mendocino Film Festival, the Berkshire International Film Festival, Woods Hole Film Festival, and Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival.[13]

Reception

Steve Kopian writing on Unseen Films described the film as "One of the best films of DOC NYC and of 2024".[14]

Andy Howell, writing for Film Threat, said the film "dramatically illustrates both the importance and process of science and journalism, at a time when both are under attack."[15]

Louisa Moore, writing for Screen Zealots, said the film is "one of the most chilling and vital environmental documentaries in recent memory."[16]

Tina Kakadelis, writing for Beyond the Cineramadome, said the film "is investigative documentary journalism at its finest and most urgent."[17]

Christopher Cross, writing for Asynchronous Media, said the documentary is "an infuriating and insightful dive into the lingering devastation of a single action" and "there’s a vitality to its investigation that demands to be seen."[18]

Paula Farmer, writing for CultureVulture, said, "The film’s style and approach, coupled with the disturbing, yet invaluable information, and shot in way that is richly layered and deeply engaging, make for a vital addition to environmental storytelling. “Out of Plain Sight” is a documentary worth seeking out."[19]

Accolades

Festival/Organisation Date Award/Category Recipient Result Ref.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival February 15, 2025 Audience Choice Award Out of Plain Sight Won [20]
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital March 29, 2025 Shared Earth Foundation Award Won [21]
International Wildlife Film Festival April 15, 2025 Best Feature Won [4]
Mendocino Film Festival May 29, 2025 Special Jury Award for Environmental Justice Won [22]
Berkshire International Film Festival June 1, 2025 Documentary Jury Award - Honorable Mention Won [23]
Berkshire International Film Festival June 2, 2025 Audience Award Won [23]
Woods Hole Film Festival August 2, 2025 Director's Choice Award for Fortitude in Filmmaking Won [5]
Jackson Wild Media Awards August 4, 2025 Investigative Finalist [5]
Jackson Wild Media Awards August 4, 2025 Science & Nature - Long Form Finalist [5]

References

  1. ^ "Out of Plain Sight". DOC NYC. November 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  2. ^ Garner, Glen (February 15, 2025). "40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival Winners — Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "Shared Earth Foundation Award". DCEFF.org. March 28, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "IWFF 2025 Winners". wildlifefilms.org. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "2025 WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS". woodsholefilmfestival.org. August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  6. ^ "2025 Media Awards". jacksonwild.org. August 3, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  7. ^ Fausey, Callie (February 11, 2025). "'Out of Plain Sight' Premieres at SBIFF, Detailing DDT Dumping in Pacific". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  8. ^ "L.A. Times and Sypher Studios to Premiere Environmental Documentary Feature 'Out of Plain Sight' at DOC NYC". Los Angeles Times. October 29, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  9. ^ Carey, Matthew (October 10, 2024). "DOC NYC Announces 15th Anniversary Lineup Including 31 World Premieres From 'Drop Dead City' To 'After The Rain,' 'All God's Children' & More". Deadline. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  10. ^ Hammond, Pete (January 17, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets Full 2025 Program, Will Partner With Direct Relief To Raise Funds For L.A. Wildfires". Deadline. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "2025 Film Festival Lineup". Slamdance Film Festival. December 19, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  12. ^ "Shared Earth Foundation Award For Advocacy". DCEFF.ORG. January 28, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "Out of Plain Sight Tickets". Out of Plain Sight Official Website. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  14. ^ Kopian, Steve (November 16, 2024). "Out of Plain Sight". Unseen Films. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  15. ^ Howell, Andy (February 17, 2025). "Out of Plain Sight". Film Threat. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  16. ^ Moore, Louisa (June 27, 2025). "Out of Plain Sight". Screen Zealots. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Kakadelis, Tina (July 10, 2025). ""Out of Plain Sight" Reckons With Choices that Cannot Be Undone". Beyond the Cineramadome. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  18. ^ Cross, Christopher (February 24, 2025). "Slamdance 2025: 'Out Of Plain Sight' Review". Asynchronous Media. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  19. ^ Farmer, Paula (April 15, 2025). "Out Of Plain Sight". CultureVulture. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  20. ^ Tangcay, Jazz; Minton, Matt; Lee, Abigail; Coates, Lauren (February 15, 2025). "'Out of Plain Sight,' 'O Horizon' and 'Road of Fire' Among 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Winners – Film News in Brief". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  21. ^ @dceff_org (February 18, 2025). "We are thrilled to announce this year's Shared Earth Foundation Award winner and Closing Night Selection - @outofplainsightfilm". Instagram. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  22. ^ Mendocino Film Festival (May 30, 2025). "Congratulations to Out of Plain Sight - winner of our 2025 Environmental Justice Award". Facebook. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "The Berkshire International Film Festival Wraps Spectacular Nineteenth Year Paying Tribute to Award-Winning Actor Brian Cox, Screening 75 Films, With Dozens of Filmmakers, Tea Talks and Events!". Facebook. Berkshire International Film Festival. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
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