A Life Illuminated (2025)

A Life Illuminated follows trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder as she descends 3,300 feet into the ocean’s darkest depths.

One of the first women in her field and one of the first humans to explore the ocean’s twilight zone, she has captured the sublime wonders of the deep sea, from the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid to unveiling the glowing mysteries of bioluminescence. Now, Edie embarks on her most daring quest yet: to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.

Tasha Van Zandt is an award-winning director, cinematographer, and Emmy-nominated producer who has documented stories from the farthest ends of our polar regions to the depths of the ocean. Dedicated to stories that illuminate our human connection to the natural world, her work has been supported by The Sundance Institute, Sloan Foundation, Library of Congress, American Film Showcase, National Geographic Expeditions, and more.