NEW PODCAST: The History of the History with Matt Warshaw

Founder and operator of Encyclopedia of Surfing, Matt Warshaw, joins us for a catch up after the festival to chat about things other than Barry Kanaiaupuni’s bottom turn.  His fundraiser is in full swing, so if you’d like to support his mission, all of surf culture would appreciate it.  Enjoy!

Subscribe to our Podcast NOW (Sometime, it takes a couple hours for the latest episode to populate. Check your device’s “recent” updates for the latest episode.): AppleSpotifyLibsyn – Google Podcasts – Amazon Music – Audible

2021 Awards Announced

New Smyrna Beach, FL – Florida Surf Film Festival (FSFF), presented by Monster Energy, is proud to announce awards for the feature and short documentary film categories for the 2021 festival, which convened on November 19th and 20th at Atlantic Center for the Arts, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Coming back from a pandemic has been rewarding for a lot of reasons.  One is gathering in a public space to celebrate the hard work of filmmakers in our culture.  Another, seeing old friends from out of town who rarely get to interact, if not for the festival.  This year, returning to the main event, Matt Warshaw, Scott Hulet, Wyatt Daily, Justin Misch, and Jack Coleman returned to share stories and work with fans, and what a weekend. Kelly Slater, 11X World Champ, stopped by Saturday night for the USA Mainland Premier of Waterman, by Isaac Halasima and producers, David Ulich and Dr. Steven Ungerleider (The Foundation for Global Sports Development & Sidewinder Films), and winner of Best Documentary – Feature for 2021.

Isaac Halasima and Kelly Slater; Photo – Patrick Ruddy @ruddyphoto

Kelly said, “Duke’s story is the thing of legend for the surf community, but much of his popular fame has been lost in recent generations. This movie outlines what seems to be a timely topic given our current civil situation but also brings everyone up to speed with the importance Duke played not only for surfing, but in the community at large in a time when people of color were rarely celebrated. His kindness and humility shone through some tough times in history, and he inspired people with his character, kindness, and larger than life persona.”

Other winners at the main event included Jack Coleman’s Polysun, which took home Best Soundtrack – Feature, set entirely to Relatively Clean Rivers self-titled 1976 album, pulled from the dust by Joey Bookout, who collaborated with the filmmaker for this five-year project of alternative watercraft.  The retro look and sound of the project unified with Joey and Jack on stage, discussing how it came together after its World Premiere.  Jack also took home Best Soundtrack – Short for his film, Inner Wild, which screened in March 2020.  Not only is Jack Coleman the winningest filmmaker at our festival, he was officially the second inductee in our Hall of Fame (which doesn’t exist, but if it did, he would be in there along with long time sponsor, Brian Layman).

Joey Bookout and Jack Coleman; Photo – Patrick Ruddy @ruddyphoto

While we do not select for competition any films made outside of our arbitrary year and a half window before the festival year, we most certainly and proudly shared the 50-year anniversary edition of a fully remastered, 4K version of Albert Falzon’s Morning of the Earth.  After the mind-meld with mother ocean, we talked with Albe on the phone through the microphone, while he fed parrots sunflower seeds on his porch.  The man sounded at peace with Justin and Wyatt’s remastering over three years every single frame of the original work.  What a blissful way to end the 2021 festival year.

Wyatt Daily and Justin Jarchow-Misch, Filmmakers and Remastering Producers; Photos:  Patrick Ruddy @ruddyphoto

Both Havana Libre, by MakeWild Films, and Water Get No Enemy, by Aurthur Bourbon and Damien Castera with Almo Film and Hand Studio, played to a sold-out crowd on Friday Night, earning high marks from various jury members.  Accompanied by Nate Laverty’s Born Pacific featuring Pete Devries exquisite aerial work and green room, finger-dragging shacks.

Every year, we try to approximate which films win the Viewers’ Choice Awards for the feature and short category based on feedback from the fans.  This year, Girls Can’t Surf earned the Viewers’ Choice Award – Feature; and The Midnight Hour earned the Viewers’ Choice Award – Short.  Both projects scored highly with the jurors as well.

John Brooks and Isaac Halasima.  Photo: Kevin Miller       John Brooks and Jack Coleman.  Photo:  Patrick Ruddy

Both nights were held in the Harris Blackbox Theater at Atlantic Center for the Arts, alongside the studio complex where fans were treated to New Smyrna Beach Brewing and Clancy’s Cantina poke’ and tacos.  Thanks for all our sponsors below who make this event happen for five programming nights per year.

Congratulations to all the winners, and congratulations to all the selections for 2021.  We sincerely appreciate all your hard work and can’t wait to see where you turn your lenses next.

Here are all the winners for 2021:

Best Documentary – Short:            Mirage: The Ever-Changing Story of Skeleton Bay

Best Surf Movie – Short:                 Dark Hollow by Dion Agius and Joe G.

Best Cinematography – Short:       Dark Hollow by Dion Agius, et al.

Best Soundtrack – Short:                Inner Wild by Jack Coleman

Viewers’ Choice – Short:                 The Midnight Hour by Keith Malloy

Best Documentary – Feature:        Waterman, by Isaac Halasima and and producers, David Ulich and Dr. Steven Ungerleider, The Foundation for Global Sports Development & Sidewinder Films

Best Surf Movie – Feature:             Rainbows in the Rearview, by Albee Layer and Dan Norkunas

Best Cinematography – Feature:  Arc of Aleutia by Chris Burkard and Ben Weiland

Best Soundtrack – Feature:            Polysun by Jack Coleman

Viewer’s Choice – Feature:             Girls Can’t Surf by Chris Nelius

It’s been an incredible year, and there’s no way to thank all of the producers, directors, cinematographers, and editors that put their hard work into these projects. Their stories are the ones we want to hear. Adam Steckley constructed our 2021 awards from a washed-up piece of lacewood from the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

For a full archive of the films presented during the festival year, please visit our website at https://floridasurffilmfestival.com.

We recognize the difference between Best Documentary and Best Surf Movie.  Those who approach the art form by documenting a character, locale, etc. with personal interviews, historical footage, and anecdotal clips will be in competition for Best Documentary, and those movies focusing on the high performance, action-driven sequences will compete for Best Surf Movie. This award will be extended to short films as well. In addition, Best Cinematography and Best Soundtrack will be awarded for both feature and short films, along with a Viewers’ Choice award.

Florida Surf Film Festival’s jury, comprised of twelve individuals with journalistic, cultural, and/or experiential factors will determine recognition.

Juries include:  Feature Films – Matt Warshaw, Chas Smith, David Scales, Taylor Steele, Keith Malloy, Lauren Hill, and Ira Opper.  Short Films –Marcus Sanders, Takuji Masuda, Matthew Shaw, Scott Hulet, Ashton Goggans, and Joe Turpel.

We are proud to have Monster Energy serve as our presenting sponsor for this year’s festival, providing travel and lodging for the filmmakers who attend the festival.

Principal Sponsors:  Roark, YETI, Surfline, Globe Brand Footwear, Anson Stoner (Advertising and Creative), and Atlantic Center for the Arts.

Major Sponsors: AdventHealth, Cronin Surfboards, Florida Virtual School, Brian Layman Wealth Management, Red Dog Surf Shop, Kembali Board Shack, Café Verde, and Clancy’s Cantina

Sponsors:  SurfYogis Sunscreen, Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Dragon Alliance, LunDev Homes, New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, Biological Consulting Services, La Ponderosa Beach and Jungle Resort, Total Vision, Funxion IT, Holistic Movements, NSB Spine and Injury Center, Beachside Tavern, Daytona Climbing Company, Surfrider Foundation (Cocoa Beach and Flagler/Volusia Chapters).

Media Partnerships include:  Surfline, Stab, The Surfer’s Journal, Surf Splendor Podcast Network, Beach Grit, The SurfNetwork, and Encyclopedia of Surfing.

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.

Florida Surf Film Festival mission: 

Florida Surf Film Festival’s is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to invigorate surf culture and artistic appreciation by exhibiting contemporary documentary films with surfing as a focus from artists far and wide and operate featured-artist workshops in journalism, photography, and filmmaking.

NEW PODCAST: Private Whale Parts with Lauren Hill

Big thank you to Lauren Hill, who stepped into her recording studio and shared a tale of… well, you better listen.  Activist, surfer, filmmaker, podcaster…  Get the latest on what she’s been up to and how we hope to bring her home for another film festival with her hard work on the big screen.

Programming Announced for Florida Surf Film Festival 2021

Eighth Annual Florida Surf Film Festival Announces 2021 Official Selections

New Smyrna Beach, FL – Florida Surf Film Festival (FSFF), presented by Monster Energy, is proud to announce official selections for the feature and short documentary categories for its final installment of the 2021 festival on November 19th and 20th at Atlantic Center for the Arts, in New Smyrna Beach.

Passes are now available:

  1. Adults: One-night passes run $25 and a two-night pass runs $35
  2. Kids: 10 and under are also available for $15/night and $25/two-nights.
  3. A patron pass for $125/person includes a festival poster, 2021 FSFF t-shirt, FSFF 20-ounce YETI Tumbler, dinner both nights from Clancy’s Cantina on-site, two-night festival pass, and four drink tickets per night.
  4. We also offer a Green Room Membership, which includes an annual pass to all events for the next twelve months, including all the patron pass benefits. Please email Kevin@floridasurffilmfestival.comwith any questions.

Jurors in attendance for the 2021 festival include Matt Warshaw, Encyclopedia of Surfing, Scott Hulet of The Surfer’s Journal, and Matthew Shaw, The Surfer’s Journal writer.

Filmmakers in attendance include Jack Coleman with his new work Polysun, a 32-minute ride-anything look at Joey Bookout, scored by the self-titled 1976 album from Relatively Clean Rivers.  It’s Coleman at his best with his pure joy approach to surf films.

Isaac Halasima, director of Waterman, a sensational documentary of Duke Kahanamoku’s life and legend, will be in attendance to present his work and answer fans questions about the incredible journey of documenting the father of modern surfing.  (Producers, David Ulich and Dr. Steven Ungerleider – The Foundation for Global Sports Development & Sidewinder Films)

We are extremely honored to serve as the world premiere of the 50th anniversary screening of Albert Falzon’s masterpiece Morning of the Earth, which has been digitally remastered in 4k from its 16mm original stock. Restoration producers Justin Jarchow-Misch and Wyatt Daily, will be in attendance to discuss the challenges of honoring Albert’s beautiful, timeless work.  In fact, Wyatt will have a short film of an interview with Albert set to yet unseen footage from the B roll footage.

Festival selections screened during February 2020, June and August 2021 are also included for competition. They are listed below.

Check our website for an updated schedule, but here’re our estimated screen times:

November 19, 2021:

  • 4:30PM – Doors open
  • 5:30PM
    • Havana Libre by MakeWild Films, 90 min.
  • 7:30PM
    • Antidote To Our Times by Christian Marsh, 8 min.
    • Fail by Eduardo Vento, 4 min.
    • Eastbound and All Around starring the Geiselmans, Kolohe Andino, Luke Davis, and the Colapinto Brothers, 6 min.
    • Polysun starring Joey Bookout by Jack Coleman, in attendance, 32 min.
    • Q & A with Jack Coleman, 10 min.
    • Raffle – Dragon, The SurfNetwork, Roark, and more
  • 9:30PM
    • Sway by Matt Kleiner, 9 min.
    • Born Pacific starring Pete Devries by Nate Laverty, 14 min.
    • Water Get No Enemy by Aurthur Bourbon and Damien Castera, 46 min.
    • Raffle – Cronin Surfboard, YETI

November 20, 2021:

  • 5:00PM – Doors
  • 6:00PM
    • We Are Like Waves by Jordyn Romero, 12 min.
    • Waterman by Isaac Halasima, in attendance, and Sidewinder Films, (Producers, David Ulich and Dr. Steven Ungerleider – The Foundation for Global Sports Development & Sidewinder Films) – 88 min.
    • Q & A with Isaac Halasima, 10 min.
    • Raffle – Various
  • 9:00PM
    • MOTE: 50 Years Around the Sun by Wyatt Daily, 10 min.
    • Morning of the Earth starring Terry Fitzgerald, Michael Peterson, and Nat Young by Albert Falzon and restoration producer, Justin Jarchow-Misch, in attendance, 79 min.
    • Raffle – Cronin Surfboard, YETI

Included also for competition, but screening on February 5, 2022, will be For the Dream, a documentary about the essence of Ben Gravy’s approach to surfing and his quest to ride a wave in all fifty states.  Look for more information in Early January.

Previously screened films during 2020 and 2021 included for competition:

Features:

  • Transition by Nate Laverty
  • A Corner of the Earth by Ishka Folkwell
  • Andy Irons and the Radicals, by Ashton Goggans and Sam Moody
  • Arc of Aleutia by Chris Burkard
  • Girls Can’t Surf by Chris Nelius and Tom Sachs
  • Whistle of Wilderness by Chris Miyashiro
  • Rainbows in the Rearview by Albee Layer and Take Shelter Productions

Shorts:

  • Inner Wild by Jack Coleman
  • The Midnight Hour by Keith Malloy
  • Dancing in Dakar by Luke Pilbeam
  • Tech Noir by Christian Edwards and Noa Mizuno
  • Maurice Cole: The First Wave by Peter Baker
  • Dark Hollow by Joe G.
  • Grit and Water by Dan Norkunas and Take Shelter Productions
  • The Shape of Air by Rob Layton
  • Imogen Caldwell by Morgan Maassen
  • Mirage: The Ever-Changing Story of Skeleton Bay by Alan Van Gysen and Will Bendix

We recognize the difference between Best Documentary and Best Surf Movie.  Those who approach the art form by documenting, a character, locale, etc. with personal interviews, historical footage, and anecdotal clips will be in competition for Best Documentary, and those movies focusing on the high performance, action-driven sequences will compete for Best Surf Movie. This award will be extended to short films as well. In addition, Best Cinematography and Best Soundtrack will be awarded for both feature and short films, along with a Viewers’ Choice award.

Juries include:  Feature Films – Taylor Steele, Matt Warshaw, Keith Malloy, David Scales, Charlie “Chas” Smith, and Lauren Hill.  Short Films – Takuji Masuda, Marcus Sanders, Scott Hulet, Ashton Goggans, Joe Turpel, and Matthew Shaw.

We are proud to have Monster Energy serve as our presenting sponsor for this year’s festival, providing travel and lodging for the filmmakers who attend the festival.

Principal Sponsors:  Roark Revival, YETI, Surfline, Globe Brand Footwear, Anson Stoner (Advertising and Creative), and Atlantic Center for the Arts.

Major Sponsors: Advent Health, Cronin Surfboards, Creatures of Leisure, Florida Virtual School, Brian Layman Wealth Management, Red Dog Surf Shop, Kembali Board Shack, Café Verde, and Clancy’s Cantina.

Sponsors:  Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Daytona Climbing Company, Dragon Alliance, LunDev Homes, New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, SurfYogis, Biological Consulting Services, New Smyrna Spine and Injury Center, Beachside Tavern, La Ponderosa Beach and Jungle Resort, Total Vision, Funxion IT, Holistic Movements, Surfrider Foundation.

Media Partnerships include:  Surfline, The Surfer’s Journal, Surf Splendor Podcast Network, The SurfNetwork, Beach Grit, Stab, and Encyclopedia of Surfing.

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.

Florida Surf Film Festival mission: 

Florida Surf Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public charity, invigorating surf culture and artistic appreciation by exhibiting contemporary documentary films with surfing as a focus from artist far and wide while also producing a story-driven podcast, literary group discussions, and artistic workshops.

NEW PODCAST: Coffee Talk with Taylor Steele


Taylor Steele joins us for episode 20, and after working for many years on producing, filming, editing, and directing, he has embarked on three new careers.  He’s now an entrepreneur, festival operator, and creative director on a TV show.  Oh, and driving through India in the middle of the night, rain, and surfing a van over a cliff…  Enjoy.

NEW PODCAST: Wavemaker with Tom Lochtefeld

Tom Lochtefeld plays cards very close to his chest, unless of course, he knows only three of you will listen to this podcast.  The quality of information shared by this engineer of man-made waves in pools is worth a listen, if you’re interested in this form of joy.  Even if you’re not, and you’d like to argue in favor of nature-made surf, feel free to critique his life goals.  But if you find yourself sliding, gliding, and hopefully, slotting a few thanks to the brain cells on offer here in the not-to-distant future, don’t be surprised.

Programming Announced for August 28th

Buy Tickets Here

New Smyrna Beach, FL – Florida Surf Film Festival (FSFF), presented by Monster Energy, is proud to announce official selections for the feature and short documentary categories for its second installment of the 2021 festival on August 28th at Atlantic Center for the Arts, in New Smyrna Beach, with doors opening at 5:00PM, and films beginning at 6:00PM.

Filmmakers, cast, and jurors in attendance include Chris Miyashiro, director, of Whistle of Wilderness and Albee Layer, star and editor of his new film Rainbows in the Rearview, with longtime collaborator, Dan Norkunas. Both are hoping to make an appearance.

Saturday night will be accompanied by tacos and poke bowls from our loyal sponsor Clancy’s Cantina, and suds by New Smyrna Brewing Company. We’ll have some giveaways from Firewire, Creatures of Leisure, Roark, YETI, Total Vision, Red Dog Surf Shop, and more! Thanks so much for supporting our mission. 

  • 5:00PM – Doors open
  • 6:00PM – Commencement with John Brooks, Festival Director
  • 6:10PM – Grit and Water, by Dan Norkunas/Take Shelter Productions, and starring Torrey Meister (18 mins.); and Whistle of Wilderness, by Chris Miyashiro (50 mins.)
  • 7:15PM – Q & A with Chris Miyashiro
  • 7:30PM – Intermission
  • 8:30PM – The Shape of Air, by Rob Layton (6 min.); Imogen Caldwell, by Morgan Maassen (8 mins.); Mirage: The Ever Changing Story of Skeleton Bay, by Allen Van Gysen and Will Bendix (18 mins.); and Rainbows in the Rearview, by Dan Norkunas and Albee Layer with Take Shelter Productions, starring Matt Meola and Albee Layer (36 mins.)

We strongly suggest that you and your loved ones ONLY attend this event if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as the blackbox theater is an indoor venue. We also strongly suggest that you wear a face covering while inside the venue to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Following Executive Order #21-102 from Ron Desantis dated Monday, May 3, 2021, which suspends all local Covid-19 restrictions and mandates on individuals and businesses, the festival will not require the use of a face covering when inside a building at Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA). This applies to all guests. While impossible to monitor who’s been fully vaccinated and who hasn’t, we respectfully ask that you please continue to wear a face covering while inside an ACA building.

If you are experiencing symptoms or you’ve been exposed to someone who’s tested positive or experiencing symptoms, please contact us for a full refund before the date of the event.

NEW PODCAST: Wandering with Chris Miyashiro

Artist and filmmaker, Chris Miyashiro, talks about his process, from dreams to road trips, and his style as a filmmaker.  His first movie, In Dancing Days of Dawn, premiered with us in June of 2019.  We love Chris’s work and will be showing Whistle of Wilderness on August 28th at Atlantic Center for the Arts.  Enjoy the chat, and come meet him at the screening. Check out his stories here.

NEW PODCAST: Risk Tolerance with Chris Burkard


Chris Burkard is at the top of his profession.  With some average equipment and a lot of hours and hard work, he developed a natural talent for communicating the beauty of this place with us.  The work he’s presented within the surf genre comes from extreme terrain and uncrowded line-ups, and his new projects seem to find a collaborative, refined narrative reflecting the maturity of an older, smarter, more efficient artist.  We’re honored to have him share some stories of his recent collaboration with Ben Weiland and Roark, Arc of Aleutia.

Subscribe to our Podcast NOW (Sometime, it takes a couple hours for the latest episode to populate. Check your device’s “recent” updates for the latest episode.): AppleSpotifyLibsyn – Google Podcasts – Amazon Music – Audible

NEW PODCAST: Hail Mary with Balaram Stack

Balaram Stack talked to us about his new project with Ben Gulliver, Hail Mary, due to be released in the fall of 2021.  He shared a gem about taking a beat down in the Caribbean, and Ben thought Bal had disappeared in the Pacific Northwest ocean.  Enjoy the gab.

Subscribe to our Podcast NOW (Sometime, it takes a couple hours for the latest episode to populate. Check your device’s “recent” updates for the latest episode.): AppleSpotifyLibsyn – Google Podcasts – Amazon Music – Audible