THE CONCEPTION FILM

THE CONCEPTION FILM

Thirty-nine people embarked on a dive trip off the coast of California.

Only five made it back alive.

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

In the early morning hours of September 2, 2019 NEar an island off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, a fire ignited on a popular boat named the MV Conception.

Thirty-four people were trapped below deck and lost their lives. After multiple federal investigations, a criminal trial, and ongoing civil lawsuits, major questions remain.

How did the fire start?

Why were 34 people unable to escape?

Who should be held responsible?

And how do we prevent this from ever happening again?

34°02′51″N
119°44′06″W

This independent feature-length documentary will be a character-driven exploration into what happened on the MV Conception, told through investigative material, first-hand accounts and officials tasked with determining what transpired.

California’s worst maritime disaster in more than 150 years prompted Congress to change federal laws, including one from 1851 that limited liability for vessel owners.

BUT the fight is not over.

There is an active federal criminal appeal and civil lawsuits, an ongoing battle over safety regulations, and unanswered questions regarding the role that lithium-ion batteries could have played in the disaster.

The conception will honor those who died, investigate what caused the fire, examine how the tragedy could have been prevented, and detail how family members of those who perished are fighting to enact change.