ABOUT THE FILM
On the reefs of Pulau Manuk in Indonesia’s Banda Arc, sea kraits thrive among coral surrounding a volcanic island rising from the deep ocean. As their daily rhythms unfold, a rare behaviour emerges: sea kraits hunt in groups alongside schools of bluefin trevally, forming one of the ocean’s most elusive predator alliances.
Now screening at select wildlife and environmental film festivals.
![SnakeIsland_TheVolcanicLifeOfSeaKraits_Poster [Vertical].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1ebf75_a2a81a78da5645e586dd8327c6e508f5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_460,h_640,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/SnakeIsland_TheVolcanicLifeOfSeaKraits_Poster%20%5BVertical%5D.png)
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Sea kraits are often defined by a single fact: highly venomous. But spending time with them off Pulau Manuk revealed something far more layered. On this remote volcanic island in the Banda Sea, geothermal activity shapes the reef below, yet the waters support an abundance of life, including a rarely documented hunting partnership between sea kraits and bluefin trevally.
Snake Island: The Volcanic Life of Sea Kraits grew from repeated dives and long periods of observation. The film was conceived, filmed, and edited independently, allowing the structure to develop directly from what unfolded underwater. Much of the process involved patience, extended searching followed by brief, intense moments of action.
The cooperative hunting sequence builds gradually, grounded in the daily realities of breath-holding, shedding, thermoregulation, and solitary hunting. By understanding how these animals survive, the alliance becomes clearer and more meaningful.
My goal with this film was to create space for curiosity, to allow audiences to spend time with a species often framed by fear, and to let behaviour shape the connection.