Ocean Star – “Creating a Personal Paradise” (Feature Documentary)
Ocean Star is an independently financed feature documentary filmed in Mauritius and nominated for Best Feature Documentary 2025 at the 8th New Delhi Film Festival. Directed by Ruth Sewell and produced by renowned author Adam Hamdy in collaboration with Identical Media, the film explores the lives of young people aged 16 to 25 living on the island nation of Mauritius.
Set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean, Ocean Star offers a deeply human and contemporary portrait of youth navigating the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The documentary touches on globally relevant themes including sustainable agriculture, LGBTQ+ rights, education, identity, and creative and sporting careers, presenting an authentic view of modern Africa through personal, heartfelt stories. More information about the film can be found at oceanstarfilm.com.
Documentary Service Production in Mauritius
Identical Media provided service production support in Mauritius for Ocean Star, helping bring this intimate and socially relevant documentary to life. Our involvement included:
- Location scouting & filming permits across urban, rural, coastal, and interior locations throughout Mauritius.
- Local production coordination to support a flexible documentary shooting style with real participants and communities.
- Equipment rental & technical support for documentary cinematography, supplied through our in-house rental network and partners.
- Local crew & logistics management, including transport, accommodation, scheduling, and cultural liaison.
Our experience working with sensitive subject matter and real-life contributors ensured the production was handled with care, professionalism, and respect for local communities.
Key Crew & Credits
- Director: Ruth Sewell
- Producer: Adam Hamdy
- Production Company: Ocean Star / Identical Media
- Service Production: Identical Media (Mauritius)
Why Mauritius for Social & Cultural Documentaries?
Mauritius offers an exceptional environment for character-driven documentaries, combining cultural diversity, political stability, and visually rich locations within short travel distances. For Ocean Star, the island provided a safe and accessible setting to explore complex social themes while maintaining high production value.
With experienced local crews, strong institutional support, and access to the Mauritius Film Rebate Scheme (offering a 30% rebate on qualifying expenditure), Mauritius continues to attract filmmakers producing meaningful, globally relevant documentary content. Identical Media ensures productions benefit from both creative freedom and efficient on-the-ground execution.
