Carter Kirilenko

Last year, we followed a team of marine scientists into the waters off Hornby Island, British Columbia, where kelp forests that once defined the coastline are quietly vanishing. 🍿Silent Sanctuary is now streaming free on YouTube. Watch the full film at the link in our bio. Silent Sanctuary follows the journey of Dr. Lauren Dykman and her team as they embark on a visionary study to restore kelp forests at scale amidst a rapidly warming ocean. If successful, their research could pave the way for restoration efforts across Canada and around the world. Thank you to every artist and collaborator who helped to bring this film to life. Directed by: @adamcombs and @carterkirilenko Starring: Dr. Lauren Dykman Featuring: Rob and Amanda Zielinski Producer: @carterkirilenko DP/Editor: @adamcombs Underwater Op: @rebs.world SA Unit: @gareth_williams Colorist: @camthecolorist Score: @yehezkelraz Graphic Design: @reesmorgan_ Supported by: @kelprescue , @regeneration.ca Special thanks: Hornby Island Diving, @bamfieldmsc @oceanculturelife #SilentSanctuary #KelpForest #OceanConservation #ClimateAction #MarineScience #OceanRestoration #BluePlanet #PacificNorthwest #BritishColumbia #EnvironmentalFilm #DocumentaryFilm #IndieFilm #OceanLife #UnderwaterFilmmaking #ClimateSolutions #NatureDocumentary #ProtectOurOceans #MarineBiology #EcosystemRestoration #OceanOptimism

Our new film OSENI follows the recent @arksen led science expedition in Tonga aimed at better understanding threats facing humpback whales in the South Pacific. Head over to @arksen and @10percentfortheocean to view the full film. 🎞️ Grateful to have been involved in creating this piece with such a talented team of artists and scientists. Thank you to @oceanculturelife and @stubbleandco for your generous support and for enabling these stories to be told and shared. Credits Director + Editor: @carterkirilenko Producer: @harperdammannsmith Featuring: @zuzu_askin , Aunofo Havea Funaki @aunofoh iaosi “George” Tangulu Underwater Cinematography: @carterkirilenko @soulfocus_media @harperdammannsmith Aerial Cinematographer: @forrestfov @harperdammannsmith Cinematographer (topside):@soulfocus_media @carterkirilenko @allyebrillante Photography: @cathh.roy Colourist: @texandhismilkshake Researchers: @zuzu_askin @rebecca_saltysea Tour operator: @bluevagabonds_ @jonoallenphotography @evajulia_ Additional footage : @silverback_films eDNA analysis: Applied Genomics Research collaborators: Ocean Science Expeditions @oceanscienceexpeditions Anthroposea @anthropo.sea @naturemetrics Presented by: @arksen @arksenadventures @10percentfortheocean Supported by: @oceanculturelife @stubbleandco Special thanks: @waterhaul @the_explorers_club_london @themarinediaries Tongan Voyaging Society, VEPA @vavauenviro , @jonoallenphotography @evajulia_

New film out today for the @iucn_official Living Legacy series. Recently, I travelled to Greenland on assignment with @bbcstoryworks & @adamcombs to direct a film exploring how communities are navigating the impacts of climate change in the Arctic Ocean. Watch the full film through the link in my bio. When we first arrived in Greenland, I remember looking out and seeing icebergs in the distance towering over the small village of Ilulissat—ice that holds hundreds of thousands of years of history. Within it are stories of a people whose identity, culture, and livelihood have long been shaped by this landscape. As ice patterns shift, the people here are being forced to adapt and find new ways to keep their culture alive. The Arctic Edge reveals this effort and how traditional knowledge continues to guide the decisions shaping the region’s future. SERIES PRESENTED BY IUCN PRODUCED BY BBC StoryWorks PRESENTED BY Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation AGENCY Genero PRODUCTION COMPANY ReWild Africa EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Alexandra Cockburn CREATIVE PRODUCER Jude Parker SERIES LEAD Edward Hunt CLIENT REP Holly Potter COMPLIANCE Colin George DIRECTOR / PRODUCER Carter Kirilenko DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Adam Combs HEAD OF PRODUCTION Megan May Nelson PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE Livia Rao PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Grace Carter EDITOR / SOUND DESIGN / COLOR Adam Combs FEATURING Aqqalu Olsen, Jenseraq Poulsen WITH THANKS TO Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat, Ilulissat Isfjordscenter, Kalaallit Nunaanni Aalisartut Piniartullu Kattuffiat, Flemming Nørgaard #Greenland #ArcticOcean #Arctic #ClimateChange #ArcticClimate #Ilulissat #DocumentaryFilm #EnvironmentalFilm #ClimateStory #OceanStories #IndigenousKnowledge #PolarRegions #ArcticLife #ClimateImpact #ProtectTheArctic #StorytellingForChange #NatureDocumentary #FilmmakingLife #OceanConservation #BBCStoryWorks

trying to keep the eye contact Spent a few days exploring the deep blue off the coast of Fuvahmulah, where we were greeted by these beautiful oceanic whitetips - easily one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had in the ocean. They’re known for being highly curious and opportunistic, which makes every encounter feel personal. Filming them meant our head was on a swivel, steady eye contact, and hoping our camera is still in focus when they decide to come in just a little closer 😄 Grateful to @liquidsharkdivers for the guidance and for sharing your deep knowledge of these sharks. excited to share some more updates soon from an incredible month in the Maldives 🎥 #sonyalpha #OceanStorytelling #UnderwaterFilmmaking #OceanConservation #SharkEncounter

Co-Directors Carter Kirilenko and Adam Combs take us inside the making of Silent Sanctuary, a film following marine scientists studying disappearing kelp forests off Hornby Island in British Columbia. In this Filmmaking Unlocked feature, Carter and Adam share the behind-the-scenes reality of documenting a live scientific study: the uncertainty, the challenges, what went wrong, and the lessons they learned along the way. Head to the link in our bio to watch the full film on Youtube. 🌊🎥

📢 Excited to share that we’re hosting our next Ocean Meetup on Sunday March 22 at 10AM. 🌊An opportunity to build community and spend a day in the ocean! 🤿All levels welcome. Must have your own mask & snorkel, can rent all other gear at your local dive shop. 🔗More info at the sign up link in our bio. RSVP before March 19. See you there!🤍

A late 2025 wrapped 💥 Thank you to everyone who made last year such a special one. The projects I was involved in this year took me to 10 different countries. It was messy at times. burnout, missed flights, sleepless nights that forced me to slow down and rest. At the same time I consistently found myself in conversations with people that challenged my way of thinking, birthed new ideas, and inspired me to keep going. This year reminded me that stillness fuels creativity. In a world that constantly rewards doing more, stillness can feel counterintuitive but it was often in periods where I prioritized rest that I had the most clarity. The projects I am most proud of came from collaboration with artists and clients who are working to build a wilder world . This took me from the South Pacific, to the Arctic Circle, and reminded me why I started making films in the first place. A few memorable notes: 🌊 Joined a humpback whale research expedition in Tonga with @10percentfortheocean and @arksenexpeditions . edited a film about the experience with support from @oceanculturelife 🤿 Started to sharpen my skills in underwater filmmaking 🎬 - travelled to Nunavik to conduct interviews that helped inform a management plan for Beluga whales in the arctic 🫧 Continued growing my freediving practice. found a community of creatives that share my excitement for the ocean. 🐘Reached final edit stages on a documentary about one of the last wildernesses in southern Congo Directed and produced three films for @bbcstoryworks , including one in Greenland exploring how climate change is reshaping traditional ways of life 🌱Our kelp doc toured to some exciting venues including @bloomberggreen 🌲 Worked with the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation to tell a story about preserving culture, language, and land 🏃‍♂️ Ran a 450 km relay across Europe for fun 2026 what you got?

Staring directly into the mouth of a mother humpback whale is an encounter that I will never forget. We managed to stay alongside this mother and her calf for about an hour. Most of the time they would situate themselves 7-10 meters below us, where we could just barely see them from the surface. But every 25 minutes or so they would come up for air while giving a big yawn! We were fortunate to have an incredible guide (@georgeandthewhale ) and skipper (Connor) who helped to make the whales comfortable enough with us such that we could get a close shot without disturbing them. The ocean is unpredictable and we had many days where with rough conditions, timid whales, or just poor condition leading to missed encounters. But moments like this make it all worth it On expedition with @10percentfortheocean @arksenadventures

Freediving Swallows Cave with @harperdammannsmith Finally getting some time to sift through loads of footage taken during a recent expedition to Tonga with @arksen @10percentfortheocean Blown away by all the doors to new places that freediving has unlocked for me. Lots more to come. Just getting started 💫

Just wrapped a very special film with the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation and @natureunitedcanada . We’ve been working on a story about restoring and preserving the ḥaḥuułi (chiefly territories) and traditional ways of life amidst a rapidly changing world. Grateful to be part of this one. @adamcombs @joshneufeldphoto #docfilmmaking #salmonparks #salmonrun #underwaterlife #underwaterphoto #nauticam #sonyalpha #bc

Friendly bull sharks of Fiji🦈 Fortunate to have been able to spend some time in the waters of Fiji with these beautiful and misunderstood sharks. Thanks to @barefoot_kuata for the opportunity and for the awesome work being done to build awareness around shark conservation. Media has painted sharks as a species to be feared but in reality, there are on average fewer than 100 shark attacks per year and less than 5% of those attacks are actually due to unprovoked or aggressive behavior. Meaning most shark attacks that do happen are because they are simply exibiting curious behaviour or defending themselves or their territory. Shot on @sonyalpha A7sIII 24mm F3.5 Housing: @nauticamhousings Suit: @yazbeckwetsuits Would you swim with Bull Sharks?

Exploring Tonga’s epic underwater caves while on expedition with @10percentfortheocean @arksenadventures . This little spot was an absolute dream to film in. 📸 Photo by the talented @cathh.roy Wearing @yazbeckwetsuits On expedition with @arksenadventures @10percentfortheocean