“Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho recognizes how her status as an actor and Broadway singer has created the opportunity to truly make a difference. And with the documentary “Reef Builders,” which recently premiered during SXSW, she shines a light on coral reef restoration efforts.

“Truthfully, not everyone is able to make an impact. That’s a fact,” Cravalho told Variety‘s Clayton Davis at the Variety Watch Party of “Reef Builders” presented by Sheba. “The fact that I am in this position and get to combine my joy for filmmaking with my passion of advocacy, specifically for my home country and my home state, it was a no-brainer for this project.”

“Reef Builders,” which premiered during SXSW, tells the true stories of people involved in the Sheba Hope Grows program, leading major restorations to save the world’s coral reefs in the face of climate change. The documentary is brought to audiences by the Sheba brand,...