Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of an Icon has earned another major honor, winning Best Short Documentary at the inaugural Orange Film and Arts Festival in Orange, Texas.
The documentary, written, produced and narrated by wildlife journalist and former Texas Fish & Game Editor-in-Chief Chester Moore, with filmmaking and editing by Paul Fuzinski, explores the remarkable return of great white sharks to Gulf waters and the scientific discoveries helping researchers better understand these iconic predators.
The award adds to a growing list of honors for the film, which also won Best Video from the Texas Outdoor Writers Association in 2026 and Best Documentary from the Press Club of Southeast Texas.
Watch the documentary here.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this award, especially at the inaugural Orange Film and Arts Festival in my hometown,” Moore said. “What’s even more exciting is having another opportunity to share one of the great conservation victories of our time. The great white shark, the ultimate apex predator of Gulf waters, is returning to an ecosystem where its presence was once largely overlooked. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts and advances in scientific research, we’re learning just how important the Gulf is to these magnificent animals.”
The documentary examines the history of great white shark sightings in the Gulf, the mysteries surrounding their movements and the groundbreaking research that is changing our understanding of their presence in the region.
For decades, reports of great whites in Gulf waters were often met with skepticism. Today, satellite tracking, improved research techniques and growing scientific interest have helped establish a much clearer picture of their movements and use of Gulf habitats.
“One of my biggest goals with this film was to help people understand that great white sharks are not simply visitors from some faraway ocean,” Moore said.
“They are part of the Gulf’s natural heritage, and their story deserves to be told. Having this film recognized by journalists, outdoor communicators and now a film festival is extremely encouraging.”
Moore, who also founded the Gulf Great White Shark Society, credited Fuzinski’s filmmaking and editing work for helping bring the story to life.
The documentary is part of the Gulf Great White Shark Society’s larger mission to promote awareness, education and conservation of great white sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and the Greater Atlantic region.
For more information about great white sharks in Gulf waters and to learn about the Gulf Great White Shark Society, visit GulfGreatWhites.com.