Montauk documentary short lands Hamptons Film Festival world premiere

Empire of the Atlantic will debut at the 2026 Hamptons International Film Festival as part of the Views From Long Island Shorts program. The 15-minute aerial documentary spotlights marine life off Montauk and gives Bounty Uncharted a showcase at one of the East End’s signature cultural events.

Why it matters: - The Hamptons International Film Festival selection gives a Montauk-made documentary a high-profile world premiere close to the waters it depicts. - The screening puts East End marine life and coastal conservation-adjacent storytelling in front of a regional festival audience. - The film’s festival debut is a milestone for Bounty Uncharted and for a project built around the natural environment of Long Island’s eastern shore.

What happened: - Empire of the Atlantic was named an Official Selection of the Hamptons International Film Festival. - The documentary short will have its world premiere in the 2026 Views From Long Island Shorts program. - Screenings are scheduled for Wednesday, October 7 at 5:30 PM and Friday, October 9 at 2:30 PM at East Hampton Regal UA. - The film was created by Bounty Uncharted.

The details: - Empire of the Atlantic runs 15 minutes. - The film focuses on the marine ecosystem just beyond the eastern edge of Long Island. - The documentary features humpback, finback and minke whales, plus bluefin tuna, striped bass, bluefish, cownose rays and other marine life. - The film was shot entirely from the air. - Drone cinematography is used to show Montauk waters from a wide, kinetic perspective. - The project presents the offshore ecosystem as both expansive and closely connected to the shoreline. - Jeff Ragovin is co-director and producer of Empire of the Atlantic and creator of Bounty Uncharted. - Michael A. Cuomo co-directed and shot the film. - Cuomo’s connection to Montauk began during childhood summers on the East End. - Cuomo also appears in the film.

Between the lines: - The festival slot positions the film as both a local story and a polished visual piece built for a broad audience. - The all-aerial approach suggests the filmmakers wanted spectacle to carry the environmental message without relying on narration-heavy explanation. - The project also helps extend Bounty Uncharted beyond a series format into festival-circuit visibility.

What's next: - Empire of the Atlantic will screen twice during the festival’s Long Island shorts program. - The premiere may help the filmmakers build attention for future screenings or related Bounty Uncharted work. - The film’s festival exposure could also widen interest in Montauk’s offshore wildlife and the broader East End coastline.

The bottom line: - Empire of the Atlantic turns a familiar local seascape into a festival-ready documentary built for discovery, and Hamptons International Film Festival is giving it the platform for a hometown premiere.