Rob Stewart (filmmaker) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rob Stewart
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![]() Stewart in 2012
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Born | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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December 28, 1979
Died | January 31, 2017 Alligator Reef, Florida, U.S.
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(aged 37)
Cause of death | Drowning |
Alma mater | Western University |
Occupation | Photographer, filmmaker |
Rob Stewart (December 28, 1979 – January 31, 2017) was a Canadian photographer and filmmaker. He was also a conservationist, meaning he worked to protect nature. Rob was famous for his documentary films Sharkwater and Revolution. He sadly drowned at age 37 while filming his last movie, Sharkwater Extinction, in Florida.
Contents
Early Life and His Love for the Ocean
Rob Stewart was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1979. From a young age, he loved the ocean. He started taking pictures underwater when he was a teenager. By the time he was 18, he was already a certified scuba diving trainer!
Rob went to Western University and earned a degree in biology. He also studied animals and ocean life in places like Kenya and Jamaica. For four years, he was the main photographer for magazines from the Canadian Wildlife Federation. He even won awards for his amazing photos and stories.
Career: Making a Splash for Sharks
Rob got the idea for his first big movie, Sharkwater, when he was just 22. He was diving in the Galapagos Marine Reserve and saw people illegally fishing for sharks. This made him want to show the world how important sharks are.
For the next four years, Rob traveled to 15 different countries. He filmed sharks and even went undercover to learn about the illegal shark fin industry. Sharkwater became a huge success, winning over 40 awards at film festivals.
His next film, Revolution, came out in 2012. It continued the message of Sharkwater, focusing on how our planet's environment is changing. Revolution also won many awards and was a very popular Canadian documentary.
In 2012, Rob also wrote a book called Save the Humans. It was about his life and why sharks are so important. He wanted everyone to know how much we need to protect the ocean.
Before he passed away, Rob was working on a new film called Sharkwater: Extinction. This movie was meant to show that many more sharks are being killed than scientists realize.
Awards and Recognition
Rob Stewart's films were very successful and won many honors. Sharkwater alone earned him over 40 international awards. Revolution received 19 awards from film festivals around the world.
Some of the awards for Sharkwater included:
- Best Documentary and Audience Favorite Award at the 2006 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
- The People's Choice Award at the 2006 Atlantic Film Festival.
- A Special Jury Award at the 2006 Hawaii International Film Festival.
In 2007, Sharkwater won the Audience and Best Feature awards at the Gen Art Film festival. Rob was also nominated for a Genie Award for Best Documentary in 2008. He received a Genesis Award for Outstanding Documentary, which recognizes works that promote animal welfare.
His Final Dive
In January 2017, Rob was in Florida filming Sharkwater Extinction. On January 31, he and his diving partner finished a deep dive. His partner became unconscious while getting back on the boat. While the crew helped his partner, Rob, who was still in the water, disappeared.
A big search began to find him. On February 3, the United States Coast Guard found Rob's body about 200 feet underwater. He was found near where he had vanished. Later, an autopsy report said he drowned after losing consciousness at the surface of the ocean.
Legacy: Continuing His Mission
Even after Rob's death, his important work continued. The film Sharkwater Extinction was finished by his team, using the footage he had already shot. The movie premiered in September 2018 at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. It was a special event that also honored Rob and his amazing work. His mother, Sandy Stewart, shared how many people from all over the world helped finish the film, which was very touching.
To remember Rob Stewart and his dedication, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television renamed one of its awards. Now, the annual award for Science or Nature Documentary Program is called the Rob Stewart Award. This ensures his passion for protecting the ocean will always be remembered.
In 2018, a documentary film called The Third Dive: The Death of Rob Stewart was released. It looked into the details of his death and whether safety rules were followed by the dive operators.