Hey there, thanks for checking out The Last Lobsterman! We’re excited to have you along for the journey as we embark on our final phase of festival submissions!

My name is Jason Conforti, a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, who directed the talented team behind my senior thesis documentary short film, The Last Lobsterman.

Our story follows Mike Lane, a second-generation lobsterman fighting to provide for his family and protect his way of life. When a government-mandated closure halts his winter lobstering, Mike turns to experimental new lobstering technology as a means of survival.

But the hope Mike finds in new technology comes at a cost; the tight-knit lobstering community quickly ostracizes him for defying the deeply rooted traditions of this iconic American industry.

Mike must reckon with the uncertain future of lobstering and the legacy he’ll leave for the next generation.

Growing up in Cohasset, Massachusetts, I was always drawn to the iconic silhouette of lobster boats in the harbor and fascinated by the lives of the people who worked aboard them.

The solitary nature of the work, its generational heritage, and the resolve it takes to venture out into the ocean in search of this ancient crustacean invited not only an exploration of the labor itself, but of the individuals who choose this way of life.

Our film seeks to document and share a vanishing way of life in New England—once foundational to the region's identity—now facing unprecedented threats to its survival.

That's where you come in!

Post-production is complete, and we're now raising funds to submit the film to over 50 festivals—help us bring this story to audiences around the world.

We’re targeting a mix of top-tier festivals for broad exposure, regional festivals for story relevance, and documentary-focused events to engage with the filmmaking community.

Here’s a list of a few festivals we’re targeting:

Sundance Film Festival: SUBMITTED

Toronto International Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

SCAD Savannah Film Festival: ACCEPTED

Student Academy Awards: FUNDING NEEDED

Boston Short Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

Rhode Island International Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

Provincetown International Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

Tribeca Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

DOC NYC Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival: SUBMITTED

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival: SUBMITTED

San Francisco International Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

American Documentary Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

Slamdance Film Festival: FUNDING NEEDED

Your donation will cover festival submission fees and, most importantly, help The Last Lobsterman reach thousands of viewers. Donors will be kept informed of the festival's acceptance status.