A Local Story Worth Showing Up For: The Right Whale Comes to La Paloma Theatre
What: A free screening of The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope, followed by a Q&A with the Encinitas filmmakers behind it. When: Saturday, September 5, 2026 — two showings, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Where: La Paloma Theatre, 471 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024 Cost: Free, but a ticket is required — first come, first served.
There's something I love about this town: the people who make extraordinary things rarely make a fuss about it. Cheryl and Nick Dean have spent years diving alongside some of the most endangered creatures in our oceans, and they are doing screenings of their documentary just down the street from where so many of us live, work, and walk our dogs along the 101.
What Is The Right Whale About?
The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope follows right whales across two very different chapters of the same story. Southern right whales, once hunted to the edge of extinction, are now one of conservation's great comeback stories. Their northern cousins are not so fortunate — fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales remain today. The film takes viewers from sub-Antarctic calving grounds to crowded northern shipping lanes, with intimate footage of whale behavior, a dramatic rescue, and a clear-eyed look at what it would take to help these animals survive.
It's the kind of documentary that asks something of you after the credits roll — not guilt, just attention.
Who Made This Film?
Cheryl and Nick Dean are Encinitas-based filmmakers and the co-founders of Spindrift Images, a production company built around ocean storytelling. Their work has been featured by the BBC and the UN World Wildlife Day Film Showcase, and has even made its way to Capitol Hill. Nick spent over three decades as a research scientist before turning to filmmaking, and Cheryl has served as president of the San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition since 2015. Together, they founded the Spindrift Images Foundation, a nonprofit using film and education to support ocean conservation.
These aren't visitors passing through with a documentary to promote. They're neighbors, and this local premiere is happening in their own backyard.
Event Details at a Glance
- Film: The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience and Hope
- Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Showtimes: 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (two full screenings — pick whichever fits your day)
- Location: La Paloma Theatre, 471 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
- Admission: Free, ticket required, first come first served
- Bonus: A live Q&A with directors Cheryl and Nick Dean follows the film
Why I'm Sharing This
I've spent thirty years building a life and a business around this coastline — Solana Beach, Encinitas, the whole stretch of it. Part of what makes this community special is that it still shows up for its own. A free, local premiere at one of the last historic theaters on the 101, with the filmmakers themselves answering questions afterward, is exactly the kind of evening that reminds you why you live here in the first place.
If a move, a downsize, or a "what's next" conversation has been on your mind, I'd love to talk — but for now, my hope is simply that you'll grab a seat, bring someone you love, and spend an afternoon or evening supporting two of our own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the screening really free? Yes. Admission is free, though a ticket is required and seating is first come, first served.
Where do I get tickets? Tickets are available on the official ticketing page — admission is free, but a ticket is required to reserve your seat.
Which showtime should I choose? Both are identical screenings followed by the same Q&A. Choose whichever fits your schedule — 2:00 p.m. for an afternoon outing, or 7:00 p.m. for an evening one.
Is there parking near La Paloma Theatre? Yes — there's a free lot behind the theater as well as street parking throughout downtown Encinitas.
Who are Cheryl and Nick Dean? They're Encinitas-based documentary filmmakers and the founders of Spindrift Images, known for ocean and wildlife storytelling that's been featured by the BBC and the UN.
Peggy Foos, DRE# 01178134 Coast & Valley Real Estate Group | Compass www.coastandvalleyhomes.com