Out of Plain Sight with Short Film: When the Storms Hit
From Pulitzer Prize-finalist Rosanna Xia and Academy Award®-winning L.A. Times Studios, OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT is a cinematic exposé of an environmental disaster lurking just off the coast of Southern California. Not far from Catalina Island, aboard one of the most-advanced research ships in the world, David Valentine discovered a corroded barrel on the seafloor that gave him chills. The full environmental horror sharpens into greater clarity once he calls Los Angeles Times journalist Rosanna Xia, who pieces together a shocking revelation: In the years after World War II, as many as half a million barrels of toxic waste had been quietly dumped into the ocean – and the consequences continue to haunt the world today. Please join us after for a panel with Directors Daniel Straub and Rosanna Xia and joined by Dr. David Valentine and Joe Burnett!
- Dr. David Valentine, Dr. Alissa Deming, Dr. Eunha Hoh, Rosanna Xia, Allan Chartrand, Charlotte Seid
- Daniel Straub, Rosanna Xia
- Rosanna Xia
- Bryce Cyrier
- 2025
- United States of America
- 120 minutes
When the Storms Hit
When the Storms Hit captures the extraordinary efforts of Kevin Painchaud, the sole photojournalist at Lookout Santa Cruz, as he documents a relentless wave of atmospheric rivers that devastated California’s Central Coast. But the title speaks to more than just weather—it’s also a metaphor for the growing crisis in local journalism. With shrinking newsrooms and disappearing budgets, Kevin and his small team step into the void, bearing witness when no one else can. What begins as urgent storm coverage becomes a Pulitzer Prize–winning act of community service—and a powerful reminder of what’s lost when local news disappears.
Director: Sean Peoples
Producers: Sean Peoples, Michael T. Miller, Kevin Painchaud
Release: 2025
Region: United States
Length: 09:35
About The Santa Cruz Film Festival
Dive into five electrifying days of world-class films, unforgettable parties, and celebration as the Santa Cruz Film Festival roars back this October 8–12 2025 for its 25th anniversary.
Experience the cinematic spirit of the Central Coast as the Santa Cruz Film Festival celebrates 25 years of movie magic. Over five unforgettable days this October, the city comes alive with world-class films fresh from Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, intimate conversations with visiting filmmakers, and lively parties under the Santa Cruz sky. From boundary-pushing documentaries to electrifying narratives, SCFF invites you to immerse yourself in the moving-image arts and connect with a community that thrives on creativity.
Experience bold and necessary storytelling from around the world, including award-winning films fresh from Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, and Tribeca, alongside powerful local stories that showcase Santa Cruz and our endlessly creative Central Coast. Plus, meet the filmmakers at screenings, Q&As, industry panels and at the Opening Night Gala at the Museum of Art and History!
SCFF 25 will be held at The Del Mar Theater, Santa Cruz Cinema Colligan Theater, The 418 Project, and Indexical.