On Sanibel: The Hurricane Diaries, a powerful documentary capturing the resilience of Sanibel Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, premiered on May 15, 2025, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center as part of the Fort Myers Film Festival.
The premiere sold out, prompting the addition of a second screening due to overwhelming demand. The film was also honored with the Festival’s Audience Favorite award.
Directed and produced by longtime Sanibel resident Laura DeBruce, On Sanibel: The Hurricane Diaries featured dramatic, first-hand footage from islanders who remained during the storm, which severed the Sanibel Causeway and devastated the island.
“I was thrilled to receive the Audience Favorite award,” said DeBruce. “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to support our film—this story was a tribute to our island’s grit and resilience. I was also happy to see another film about Sanibel—WGCU’s Untold Stories: Sanibel’s Island Store—win Best Local Production. Our beautiful island was well-represented throughout the festival.”
Through intimate interviews and striking footage, the documentary told the stories of residents, small business owners, and community leaders who rose to the challenge. DeBruce began documenting recovery efforts just days after the storm, arriving by boat and bicycle with her husband, Jeff Blackman. Despite breaking her wrist on the first day back—following an alligator encounter—she began filming immediately. She later recruited her friend Diana Taylor to assist and teamed up with award-winning videographer and Sanibel native Chad Hatcher to bring the project to life.
The film’s original score was composed by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning composer Kat Epple, whose music echoed the film’s themes of paradise, peril, courage, loss, and unity. “My goal was to craft music that connected not only to the visuals but to the heart and soul of the story,” said Epple.
On Sanibel: The Hurricane Diaries stands as a deeply moving tribute to a community that refused to be defeated—told by those who lived it.
__________________________________________________________________________
Links:
On Sanibel Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563512172527
On Sanibel Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/61563512172527/videos/983090534031724
Starfish Lane Productions: https://starfishlaneproductions.com/
About the Filmmaker
Laura DeBruce is an attorney, entrepreneur, and independent documentary filmmaker. She is the founder of Starfish Lane Productions, a Sanibel-based company focused on stories of community resilience and environmental change. A Sanibel resident since 2015, DeBruce serves on the Sanibel City Council and the board of Island Water Association. She has previously served on the boards of Community Housing and Resources. Zonta, and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, as well as the Sanibel Planning Commission.
In 2018, she and her husband co-founded Sanibel Carts, a street-legal golf cart rental business. She also practices law through DeBruce Blackman, PLLC.
Laura’s previous documentary work includes Speed Skate, Pink State Politics: A New Virginia, and The Pantheon de la Guerre. She earned a B.S. in Communications from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law. She lived in Europe for several years, where she taught university courses, worked for Baker & McKenzie, and later served as Director of Legal Affairs for CME Media Enterprises, launching TV networks across post-Communist Europe. She also co-founded GrandView Castle Entertainment, which distributes films throughout Eastern Europe and Russia.
