FILM · 2020 · SOUTH AFRICA
My Octopus Teacher
10 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
10 Interesting Facts About My Octopus Teacher
Interesting Facts (8)
- #001
Craig Foster can hold his breath for 6 minutes, while director Pippa Ehrlich can hold hers for 4 minutes.
- #002
Craig Foster is the founder of the Sea Change Project, which emerged from the making of this film.
- #003
This documentary was shot along the coastline of Cape Town, South Africa, in Craig Foster's backyard in False Bay.
- #004
Some unused footage that did not appear in the film was used in Blue Planet II (2017).
- #005
Co-director Pippa Ehrlich is a journalist specializing in marine conservation.
- #006
The editing of the film's first rough cut took a full year.
- #007
Tom Braden Foster (Craig Foster's son) shot some of the drone footage.
- #008
Craig Foster's wife, Swati Thiyagarajan, was also the documentary's production manager.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #009
Over a period of two years, 3000 hours of footage were shot.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #010
After working solely on the film for 18 months, Pippa Ehrlich worried she had grown too close to the story and brought in co-director James Reed for fresh perspectives. Reed conducted a three-day film interview with Craig Foster that was used heavily in the film.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
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