September 4, 1971. Lake Cote, Costa Rica.
The Cote Photo
A government cartographer. A routine survey flight. One photograph that has defied explanation for 55 years. Now he is finally talking.
Frame 300, government survey roll
Costa Rican national archive
10.4731° N, 84.6428° W
“It’s time for me to start telling my stories. To start sharing.”
Sergio Loaiza, the cartographer who took the photograph
Watch the trailer
“Best ever” official UFO photograph?
Fifty-five years ago, on September 4, 1971, a routine government mapping expedition accidentally captured a photograph of a UFO: an image that remains other-worldly, and remarkably convincing.
Known as the Cote UFO photo, it stands apart from most UFO and UAP imagery because it is an official government photograph with an undisputed chain of custody. Even more unusual, the object is photographed from above, not from the ground.
As governments around the world begin to acknowledge and declassify UFO and UAP encounters, the Cote photo feels less like an anomaly and more like an early glimpse into a much larger, still-unfolding story.
“It’s time for me to start telling my stories. To start sharing. Because their mission is to now share their stories.”
Sergio Loaiza, government cartographer
Go deeper into the story.
The Experiencers
The people who were there. Their accounts, their memories, and what they know.
The Researchers
The investigators and scientists who have spent decades analyzing the photograph.
The Filmmakers
Adam Pillon and Megan Woomer on why they made this film, and how.
Director’s Statement
The camera does not interrogate. It listens. On the approach behind the film.
Press Room
Press materials, high-resolution images, screener access, and interview requests.
Make Contact
For interviews, screenings, partnerships, and press inquiries.
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