Tides of Change: How Dana Frankoff is Helping Organizations Tell Their Sustainability Stories

Jordan P. Kelley, Director of Content, BrandStorytelling

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Brand storytellers know authenticity drives audience engagement and purpose shapes brand loyalty. For brands and organizations whose social responsibility initiatives focus on the environment, telling stories about these initiatives has become a strategic imperative. Filmmakers who understand both cinematic craft and ecological urgency can be vital partners for brands looking to meaningfully communicate their sustainability missions. As more and more companies aim to go beyond greenwashing and genuinely connect with eco-conscious consumers, the intersection of branded content and environmental documentary filmmaking remains a powerful channel for impact.

BrandStorytelling recently caught up with Dana Frankoff, a creative whose transition from top-tier animation studios like Pixar, Sony, and Lucasfilm to founding her own impact-driven production company, Turning Tides Films, reflects the continuing shift toward storytelling with purpose. We sat down with Frankoff to learn about her creative evolution, what sparked her mission-driven filmmaking journey, and how her work has helped organizations like American Rivers and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary bring environmental issues to life. With a deep personal connection to the ocean and a talent for crafting character-driven stories that inspire hope and action, Dana is helping brands move beyond surface-level messaging to tell stories that resonate and endure.

What inspired your transition from your work at Pixar, Sony, and Lucasfilm to founding Turning Tides Films?

After traveling to places like Indonesia, Africa, and local national parks and realizing that even our “last wild places” were being impacted by plastic pollution, air pollutants and wildlife extinction, I felt I needed to help.

I took a three-month sabbatical from Pixar to return to Africa to shoot behind-the-scenes footage for a couple working with National Geographic. That experience made me realize how powerful storytelling can be in protecting the environment.

As a surfer, I have a deep love for the ocean, and filmmaking is what I know best. So, I set out to create a documentary to help protect the ocean. After the release of my first film, “Voice Above Water,” I began getting hired to make more documentaries. Four films later, I now run my production company, Turning Tides Films, full time, telling stories that inspire global change.

How did "Voice Above Water" come to life, and what impact has it made?

After talking with scientists, nonprofit organizations, and others working closely on pressing ocean-related issues, the spark for "Voice Above Water” came from a story I heard about Balinese fishermen who were using their boats and nets to collect plastic from the ocean, since they could no longer fish due to plastic pollution. I teamed up with a production company in Bali, and during a location scout, our director of photography, Romain Cailliez, found Wayan, a 90-year-old fisherman doing his part to protect the place he loved. Romain sent me Wayan’s photo, and it was clear from the intention in his eyes and the lines on his face that Wayan had a story to tell.

Six months of pre-production later, we traveled to Wayan’s hut on the island of Nusa Penida to tell his story. Wayan and his family graciously welcomed us into their home. We filmed for only two and a half days, and I began piecing the story together immediately in post-production to submit it in time for the Banff Mountain Film Festival — where it ended up winning Best Short Documentary. “Voice Above Water” has since won 23 awards, received a Vimeo Staff Pick, and continues to screen all around the world.

My hope is that the film has inspired people to be more mindful of what we consume and where our trash ends up, and that the story serves as proof that each of us is capable of making a difference.

How do you choose stories that inspire ocean preservation and environmental awareness?

I’m drawn to character-driven stories that are relatable and that inspire hope and solutions. There’s a lot of information out there about everything that’s going wrong on our planet that can be a bit stifling and it can be unclear as to what to do next. Hopeful stories build momentum and encourage people to take action and make a difference.

While I found and developed the stories for “Voice Above Water” and “Gardeners of the Sea” (currently in post-production), my other documentaries have come from clients whose stories aligned with Turning Tides Films’ mission to help protect our planet. I made a film for American Rivers called Silent River, bringing awareness to the drought affecting the Colorado River. I worked with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to create a film about the history and designation of the sanctuary, which now protects 6,000 square miles of ocean and coastline. I’m finishing a film on The Ecology Center, a regenerative farm in San Juan Capistrano, California, started by a surfer to help protect the ocean from toxic land runoff.

There are so many people working every day to protect our environment, and while there's still much to be done, the community you find when you team up with others who care about the planet is a truly healthy and beautiful space. My hope is that these films help foster more community and a deeper longing to care for one another and our planet.

What story does "Gardeners of the Sea" tell, and why is it important now?

“Gardeners of the Sea” is the story of three generations of women ocean farmers in Hawai’i who are researching, replanting, and harvesting sea plants to support native marine wildlife, capture carbon from the atmosphere, and share the plants’ rich nutritional benefits. This short film interweaves their three beautiful stories, showcasing their deep love for the ocean and how each woman uses her unique skills and cultural traditions to highlight the vital role of sea plants in sustaining marine environments.

With climate change becoming more of a threat, this film highlights how protecting sea plants can help protect the ocean, the atmosphere, and ourselves. Whether through surfing, diving, cooking, or simply appreciating the ocean’s beauty, “Gardeners of the Sea” aims to inspire more people to take action in protecting marine ecosystems around the world.

The film has already been shot in Hawai’i, and we are currently seeking $13,000 to complete post-production.

What advice would you give brands seeking to collaborate with filmmakers on sustainability projects?

As an environmental filmmaker, I’m particularly interested in collaborating with sustainability-focused brands. These partnerships can take the form of co-creating original films with an environmental message or documenting the meaningful work a brand is already doing. In both cases, the goal is the same: to tell stories that raise awareness and contribute to broader conversations about sustainability.

For these collaborations to succeed, it’s essential to start with a clear understanding of the brand’s values and the impact they aim to have. My role is to listen closely, find the authentic thread within that mission, and help shape it into a story that feels honest and engaging, both visually and emotionally. When that alignment exists between filmmaker and brand, the storytelling becomes more compelling, and the audience is more likely to engage.Together, the brand team and I create a distribution plan to ensure the film and its messaging reach a wide audience.

Sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s a lifestyle. Brands that embrace it meaningfully and early earn the trust of consumers who want to live sustainably. Thoughtful filmmaking is one of the best ways to share that message with a wide audience.

For brands considering this type of work, my advice is to approach it with openness and authenticity. Choose filmmakers whose values and storytelling approach reflect your own. The right partnership can result in a film that creates personal connection and a lifelong relationship with a brand.

I’m always open to thoughtful, purpose-driven collaborations. If you're considering a film project that supports your sustainability mission, I’d be happy to connect.

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Learn more about Turning Tides Films

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About Dana Frankoff

Dana is an award-winning Director, Producer and Writer based in Northern California. She launched Turning Tides Films in 2019 with her directorial debut, “Voice Above Water'“ which won 23 awards, got a Vimeo Staff Pick and continues to play all over the world. She combines her passion for storytelling with her love for the ocean and the environment to tell thought-provoking stories that help change the world.

Before starting Turning Tides Films, Dana worked for Sony Animation, LucasFilm, Henry Selick and Pixar Animation Studios. Dana received her B.F.A in Creative Writing from Emerson College and has been writing stories since she was 5 years old.

Dana can often be found surfing waves in Bolinas, hiking trails in the hills of Northern California with her dog Uluwatu, on location filming around the world, or at home in Marin working on her films.