PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2026
Publicity Contact:
Sherry Flumerfelt, Executive Director
Western Flyer Foundation
sherry@westernflyer.org
(831) 220-8047
NEWPORT, Ore. — We Simply Liked It: Steinbeck, Ricketts, & the Return of the Western Flyer, a short film by Aaron Straight of Soulcraft Allstars, has been named Best Film at the upcoming Big Blue Film Festival (January 23-24) in Newport, Oregon. Created during the Western Flyer’s 85th-anniversary return expedition to the Gulf of California in spring 2025, the film was made in partnership with the Western Flyer Foundation and will screen during the festival’s opening reception night, followed by a live panel discussion with members of the expedition.
The recognition at Big Blue Film Fest comes as the Western Flyer Foundation works to bring the vessel back to Pacific Northwest waters in May and June 2026 for a pilot expedition serving communities in Oregon and Washington.
The 24-minute film reflects on the legacy and modern revival of the Western Flyer—the vessel that carried author John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts on their landmark 1940 expedition to the Gulf of California, inspiring The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Rather than reenacting history, the film treats the return voyage as a living inquiry—an invitation to observe the natural world with curiosity, humility, and wonder.
Panelists for the Big Blue Film Fest screening include Captain Paul Tate; Dr. Jack Barth, professor of oceanography at Oregon State University and member of the Western Flyer Foundation board; Katie Schreiber, co-producer of the film; and Sherry Flumerfelt, Executive Director of the Western Flyer Foundation. Schreiber is a longtime collaborator of Straight, founder of Soulcraft Allstars.
“The Western Flyer has always been more than a ship. It’s a place for asking meaningful questions about our relationship with the ocean,” said Dr. Barth. “This film carries forward the spirit of Steinbeck and Ricketts—of paying attention and observing, sometimes without an agenda—and reminds us that this approach matters not only for understanding the ocean, but for how we see the world and our place in it.”
Looking Ahead: A Return to the Pacific Northwest
The planned May and June 2026 voyage would mark the first step toward establishing a recurring, biennial Western Flyer presence in the Pacific Northwest. Planned stops for the pilot expedition include Coos Bay, Newport, Astoria, and Port Townsend, creating a northbound route connecting coastal communities in Oregon and Washington.
During the expedition, students, educators, and researchers would be welcomed aboard in each port for hands-on programs focused on marine science, ocean observation, and place-based learning. The Foundation will also host public tours and community events, offering members of the public the opportunity to step aboard the Western Flyer and see the vessel’s remarkable restoration firsthand. The return would honor the ship’s deep ties to the Pacific Northwest, including her restoration in Port Townsend and long history working in regional waters.
To make the pilot expedition possible, the Foundation is currently seeking time-sensitive support from individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations to underwrite voyage costs, including fuel, crew, and free education programs for coastal students.
Support for the expedition will help ensure this historic vessel can serve Pacific Northwest students and communities in 2026, while laying the groundwork for future return trips.
https://www.westernflyer.org/bringing-the-western-flyer-back-to-the-pacific-northwest
About the Film
We Simply Liked It is a poetic, place-based documentary by filmmaker Aaron Straight and Soulcraft Allstars, created in partnership with the Western Flyer Foundation. The film weaves together science, storytelling, and community—from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas to Agua Verde—and features student collaborations, traditional dance, and artistic responses inspired by the Western Flyer. Rather than delivering a single message, it invites viewers to rediscover curiosity as a way of engaging with the natural world.
Additional public screenings are planned for 2026, including in Pacific Grove, California on April 17, 2026. To receive updates on future film events and Foundation programs, supporters are invited to sign up for the Western Flyer Foundation newsletter at www.westernflyer.org/newsletter.
About the Western Flyer Foundation
The Western Flyer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and owner-operator of the historic research vessel Western Flyer. The Foundation stewards the vessel’s restoration, care, and programs, using the ship as a platform for ocean science, education, and research. Learn more at www.westernflyer.org.
About Soulcraft Allstars
Soulcraft Allstars is a creative production company specializing in telling compelling stories through film and visual media. Their projects span documentary, education, and activism, with a focus on amplifying narratives that create impact. Learn more at www.soulcraftallstars.com.
About Big Blue Film Fest
The Big Blue Film Festival is an annual ocean-themed film festival held in Newport, Oregon, celebrating films that connect science, art, and the marine environment. The festival is a collaboration between Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, and the Newport Performing Arts Center.
https://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/big-blue-film-fest