UF Alumni and Students Document the Fragility and Protection Efforts for Florida’s Coral Reef

“Reef Keepers,” a documentary film that follows the journey of scientists as they refuse to let the Florida Coral Reef—and the communities that depend on it—slip away, is currently in production.

A team of University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) and UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences alumni and adjunct instructors and students are focused on filming community, resilience, and hope, to show that change is a shared effort to protect the fragile reef.

Alyson Larson, B.S. Journalism 2011, is co-director and producer along with Natalie Van Hoose who serves as co-director and writer. Laura Landry is the editor and UFCJC Media Production Management and Technology senior Azhalia Pottinger served as a production assistant on a shoot in the Florida Keys.

As Floridians and environmental storytellers, Larson and Van Hoose bring deep connection and curiosity to this project. Van Hoose’s decade-plus collaboration with scientists offers rare insight into their world, especially as they face the loss of their life’s work due to climate change.

The film also centers around women, both on screen and as crew, amplifying their role in science and solution-making. Their efforts have captured a tight-knit group of coral conservationists who are fighting to restore the reef that has protected the shoreline for generations.

The anticipated film release date will be in early 2026. A preview is available at https://youtu.be/fCb5P_4xKBU?si=pSxivGUKKmE00TCd

Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged: Alyson Larson Azhalia Pottinger Florida's Coral Reef Laura Landry Natalie Van Hoose Reef Keepers
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