New Smyrna Beach, FL – The fourth and final event of the 2023 Florida Surf Film Festival, presented by Monster Energy wrapped last weekend, and we are excited to announce the winners of this year’s awards. Celebrating ten-years of surf movies, we could not be prouder of our community, genuine fellowship, and good times spilling over from the past decade.  Bringing together fans from both sides of the inlet and all directions in Florida, and beyond.  Filmmakers from Australia, South Africa, Portugal, France, California, and Hawaii attended the 2023 festival, along with 24 new Surf Stories podcasts guests from all over the world. We’re closing in on 60,000 unique listens for 2023.

We kicked off the year with Jay and Jessica Johnson in attendance with their film, The Impossible Wave, highlighting the 27-year journey of Fernando Aguerre to qualify surfing as an Olympic Sport.  Englishman Mikey Corker also joined us to present his feature documentary Savage Waters, a stunning and intimate portrait of modern adventurers as they follow clues left in a 19^th century treasure-hunter’s journal to find and ride a mythical wave in some of the most dangerous waters of the Atlantic.  Mikey and producer Ghislaine Couvillat’s (Whipped Sea productions) work was truly amazing, and they took home the hardware winning Best Documentary – Feature and Best Soundtrack – Feature.

In June, we hosted the Taylor Steele Filmmaking Residency for the week leading up to our annual Father’s Day weekend of movies, including a Kelly Slater drop-in.  Darieus Legg brought his infectious stoke and smile to the festival and took home the coveted Viewers’ Choice – Short for Stoker Machine.  Maddie Meddings and Lucy Small’s film, Yama, profiled a pioneering group of Ghanaian female surfers and skateboarders, earning Best Documentary – Short.  Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Maassen reeled in yet another Best Cinematography – Short for his profile film Malia, starring Malia Manuel, and James Kates and Shaun Manners directed and edited the Joe G., Steven Douglas, and Beren Hall (Globe) produced Cult of Freedom – The Shaun Part, capturing Best Surf Film – Short and Best Soundtrack – Short.

Lisa Andersen, 4X World Champion from Ormond Beach and FSFF board member, and CJ Hobgood, 2001 World Champion, helped us wrap up the year with two sold-out nights in the outdoor amphitheater at Atlantic Center for the Arts with filmmakers Matty Hannon and Guy Williment in attendance representing their respective works, The Road to Patagonia and Corners of the Earth – Kamchatka.  Matty’s travel doc/love story/surf adventure film was rewarded with the coveted Viewers’ Choice – Feature, while Spencer Frost and Guy Williment’s stunning, Russian cold-water exploration film earned Best Surf Film – Feature and Best Cinematography – Feature.  French filmmaker Aurelien Bacquet was also in attendance with his beautiful short film A14 on the Paris surf scene.

We can’t begin to express how grateful we are to all the filmmakers, fans, juries, sponsors, and board members who support the festival and have done so now for a decade.  Rewarding doesn’t begin to describe it, and we are so excited to set course for another 10 years.  YEW!

Here are all the winners for the 2023 festival year:

Best Documentary – Short:  Yama, Lucy Small and Maddie Meddings

Best Surf Movie – Short:  Cult of Freedom – The Shaun Part, Joe G

Best Cinematography – Short:  Malia by Morgan Maassen

Best Soundtrack – Short:  Cult of Freedom – The Shaun Part, Joe G

Viewers’ Choice – Short:  Stoker Machine, Darieus Legg

Best Documentary – Feature:  Savage Waters, Whipped Sea – Mikey Corker

Best Surf Movie – Feature:  Corners of the Earth – Kamchatka, Guy Williment and Spencer Frost

Best Cinematography – Feature:  Corners of the Earth Kamchatka by Guy Williment and Spencer Frost

Best Soundtrack – Feature:  Savage Waters, Whipped Sea – Mikey Corker

Viewers’ Choice – Feature:  The Road to Patagonia by Matty Hannon

It’s been an incredible year, and there’s no way to thank all 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 2023 awards from felled Floridian trees, allowing our winners to take home a piece of Florida in their awards.

We recognize the difference between Best Documentary and Best Surf Movie. Those who approach the artform by documenting character, locale, etc. with personal interviews, historical footage, and anecdotal clips were in competition for Best Documentary, and those movies focusing on the high performance, action-driven sequences competed for Best Surf Movie. This award will be extended to short films as well.

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, Scott Hulet, Matt George, Chas Smith, David Scales, Keith Malloy, Lauren Hill, and Ira Opper.  Short Films – Marcus Sanders, Takuji Masuda, Matthew Shaw, Ashton Goggans, Bruce Reynolds, Brad Moody, and Joe Turpel.

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

Podcast Sponsor:  Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation

Principal Sponsors:  State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture, Volusia County, Roark, YETI, Sun Bum, Wagner Vasileros – aka The Lawyer Dude, Anson Stoner, Globe Brand Footwear, and Atlantic Center for the Arts.

Major Sponsors:  Persimmon Hollow, Cronin Surfboards, Florida Virtual School, Brian Layman Wealth Management, Cap’n Lu’s – A Health Food Store for Pets, Red Dog Surf Shop, Kembali Board Shack, Café Verde, and Clancy’s Cantina 

NSB Sponsors:  Flaunt Electric Bicycles, Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Daytona Climbing Company, Dragon Alliance, LunDev Homes, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, Biological Consulting Services, Dr. Phil Stephens at MyEyeDr, Funxion IT, Pura Vida Bracelets, Beachside Tavern, Solento Organic Tequila, Dr. Matt Smith at Natural Health Practices, Daytona Drywall and Plaster, White Claw, Kula Yoga, Magnolia Acres, and Surfrider Foundation Flagler/Volusia.

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

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.

Dian Hadiani grew up on Java and experienced surf media and fascination as a child. Her background as an investigative reporter and writer sets up the perfect book about a perfect wave. We caught up with her while she’s was on a six month world-wide trip to promote her latest work, The Chronicles of G-Land. Find her work here. And enjoy this chat with Dian.

Listen to Surf Stories where ever you listen to podcasts.

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New Smyrna Beach, FL – Our fourth and last event of 2023 is fast approaching on Nov. 10^th and 11^th at Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach.  We are beyond excited at the culmination of 10 years of community stoke and surf culture. Passes are now available, and don’t forget to check out our annual Green Room Membership, which is the only way to roll if you want VIP treatment with reserved seats, meals, and drinks included.

Friday night will kick off with a series of short films including a new piece from our very own Eric and Evan Geiselmen from their recent exploits around Bali and the Caribbean.  Perry Gershkow’s latest feature Convergence will finish the first segment and is not to be missed as it delves deep into the days and nights of three enigmatic surfer/skaters shot beautifully in black and white.  Nate Tyler, Greyson Fletcher, and Conner Coffin discuss career and life balance with some of their best performances on display.

Our second film segment starts with Steve Barilotti’s short film on 70’s surf artist Rick Griffin and finishes with The Road to Patagonia by Matty Hannon.  Matty’s epic solo adventure has him surfing his way from the top of Alaska to the tip of Patagonia by motorbike but takes multiple twists and turns, deepening his appreciation of nature and meeting the love of his life.  This 50,000 kilometer journey is beautifully captured over 16 years, and Matty will be joining us from Australia to present his film and rock a Q&A after.

Saturday night, we debut the much-anticipated Trilogy: New Wave, directed by Andy McKenzie, who will be present and joining a Q&A following his film, which features Seth Moniz, Griffin Colapinto, and Ethan Ewing as they scour the globe in search of good waves and good times.

Our 10^th year of surf films and community will wrap-up with festival veteran Nathan Oldfield’s short film In The Family of Things featuring Dave Rastovich and feature film Corners of the Earth – Kamchatka by Spencer Frost. The film follows surfers Letty Mortensen and Fraser Dovell as they peer behind the iron curtain to discover volcanic cold-water slabs, Mi-8 helicopters, frozen campsites, and frozen bank accounts.  This travelogue was almost over before it began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine creating roadblocks left, right, and center, and the trip quickly became far more than they could have imagined.  Spencer will be joining us to present his film and for a Q&A following the film.

This past 10 years it has been an honor and a privilege to provide a community event that brings us together and showcases the finest surf films available.  Kevin and I look forward to seeing everyone, high fiving the last 10 years, and looking forward to the next 10…. Yeeeewwww!

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Here’s the anticipated schedule for both nights:

November 10th, 2023:

5:00 PM – Doors Open

6:30 PM –

• 10TH YEAR COMMENCEMENT with John Brooks, Festival Director
• Ephemeral – Nisrine Oulalite, 2 min.
• A Lesson in Three Images with Grant Ellis – Jack Boston, 8 min.
• To Be Frank – Anna Wilder Burns, 12 min.
• Eric and Evan Geiselman short film – 15 min.
• Convergence – Perry Gershkow, 44 min.
• Raffle – Roark, Globe, Creatures of Leisure

8:30 PM –

• Rick Griffin Interlude 01, Pacific Vibrations – Steve Barilotti, 4 mins
• The Road to Patagonia – Matty Hannon, 91 min.
• Q & A with Matty Hannon
• Raffle – Nixon, Yeti, Cronin Surfboards

November 11th, 2023:

5:00 PM – Doors Open

6:30 PM –

• 10TH YEAR COMMENCEMENT with John Brooks, Festival Director
• A14 – Guillaume Rouan and Aurelien Bacquet, 4 min.
• Beyond Frames – Samuel Mueller, 13 min.
• Trilogy: New Wave – Andy Mckenzie, 84 min.
• Q & A with Andy Mckenzie
• Raffle – Roark, Globe, Creatures of Leisure

8:30 PM –

• In The Family of Things – Nathan Oldfield, 8 min,
• Corners of the Earth – Kamchatka – Spencer Frost, 90 min.
• Q & A with Spencer Frost
• Raffle – Nixon, YETI, Cronin Surfboards

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The 8-Time XXL Big Wave Award Winner and 2010 Eddie Aikau Invitational Winner, Greg Long, joins us for some deep cuts and a fantastic story of surfers helping surfers in harrowing situations. After a terrifying near-death wipe out, losing friends, and witnessing several other close calls, he and a core group of water-people gave birth to the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group (BWRAG). Greg and his team explain that a “big” wave can be as small as 2 feet to some, and water safety should be an integral part of every surfers skill set. Plus, learn how to make long drives without stopping, and more! Enjoy.

Listen to Surf Stories where ever you listen to podcasts.

For forty years, Matt George profiled surfers like Kelly Slater and Bethany Hamilton and has published these in his new book In Deep: The Collected Surf Writings, with a forward by the 11X world champ.  Your life will be richer for the read.  Listen in here and meet the author as he shares some incredible moments outside the lines of the book.  We like to think our chat harvested some absolute gems from one of surfing’s great miners.  Visit DAP Books – Diangelo Publications to purchase his latest.  Find a link in our linktree.  Enjoy.

Find Surf Stories by Florida Surf Film Festival where ever you listen to podcasts.  We have links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify here.

Nate Tyler earns his living as a kinetic sculptor and a professional surfer in the central California hills about twenty minutes from the coast. His career of surf movie aerialist and brand ambassador for the likes of 805 Beer, Globe, and Octopus keeps his passport full with some incredible travel and inspiration for his work. We caught up with him on the release of a new film called Convergence. Enjoy.

Find Surf Stories by Florida Surf Film Festival where ever you listen to podcasts.  We have links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify here.

Harrison Roach shares quite a few good stories with us. We’d expect nothing less from this ride-anything journeyman. His charm and demeanor translates well to his role as brand ambassador for our longtime sponsor Roark and his work with Thomas Bexon Surfboards. Feel free to kickback and fall into the zone with Harrison. It’s a nice addendum to David Lee’s interview on Surf Splendor.

Find Surf Stories by Florida Surf Film Festival where ever you listen to podcasts.  We have links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify here.

Darieus Legg is a filmmaker and surfer who has rediscovered his passion for filmmaking and animation through his latest short film called Stoker Machine. His energy and banter is infectious. This is our best podcast yet in our humble opinion. It ties the whole film festival, podcast, our love for surf movies, stoke, and good people together. Enjoy.

Find Surf Stories by Florida Surf Film Festival where ever you listen to podcasts.  We have links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify here.

In Neverland, author Tricia Shantz chronicles American and Australian surfers’ influence on the north coast of New South Wales in the 60’s and 70’s. Tricia witnessed the change and significant events and characters of Byron Bay and Lennox Head, watching them transform into the cultural centers they are today. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about this nexus of quality surf and the rich history behind its lure, you’re in for a great podcast. Enjoy.  Her book is only available in Australia at this time.  Follow @NeverlandtheBook if you want to communicate with Tricia about ordering a copy.

Find Surf Stories by Florida Surf Film Festival where ever you listen to podcasts.  We have links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify here.

Buy Tickets Here

Our third quarter programming is coming up on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Passes are now available and don’t forget to check out our annual Green Room Membership, which is the only way to roll if you want VIP treatment with reserved seats, meals, and drinks included.

French Director Leopold Belangers’ short documentary, Springtide, will open the night as it depicts the birth of wave riding in long isolated Myanmar.  This beautiful film pulls back the curtain and gives a glimpse of a rarely seen culture and their journey into the world of surfing.  Festival veteran Joe G shares his latest installment in the Cult of Freedom series with COF: The Shaun Part as Aussie ripper Shaun Manners tackles some of the heaviest slabs West Oz has on offer and tops it all off with massive punts and a blazing soundtrack.  The first feature of the night, Chasing the Unicorn, from director Alan Van Gysen is a look into a wave that will have you questioning reality as Jordy Smith, Mikey February, and others trace the history of surfing in post-war Mozambique, while searching for the mythical wave known as the African Kirra.

Merry Kaliyuga, a short film from Horace Martins, aiming to use surfing as a medium to explore the striking duality between modernism and tradition in Morocco opens the second screening on Saturday night.  Our feature film of the night is Big Wave Guardians from director Luke Stirtz and documents the DIY conception of surfing’s water safety heroes.  Honolulu County Lifeguards and Firefighters, The Hawaiian Water Patrol, and the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group (BWRAG) risk their lives to reinvent water safety on a parallel track with the rising dangers of modern big wave surfing.  We are especially proud and excited to be working in conjunction with the BWRAG organization as they will be here teaching a two-day Safety Summit Surf Responder course held at the Volusia County Lifeguard HQ in Daytona Beach this same weekend.  Greg Long, Andrea Moller, and John Hoover will be leading the two-day training and will be attending the festival on Saturday night for a Q&A after the film.  There are still a few spots available for the training so you can register here.  This course is a comprehensive training that includes a CPR and first-aid certification plus first-hand training from some of the world’s leading big wave surfers that is applicable to surfers and waves of all levels.  Join us for an unforgettable night of movies and community!

Here’s the anticipated schedule for the night: 

August 26, 2023:

5:00 PM – Doors Open

6:30 PM –

• 10TH YEAR COMMENCEMENT with John Brooks, Festival Director
• Springtide – Leopold Belanger, 8 mins
• Cult of Freedom, The Shaun Part – Joe G, 18 mins
• Chasing the Unicorn – Alan Van Gysen, 34 mins
• Raffle – Roark, Globe, Creatures of Leisure

8:30 PM –

• Merry Kaliyuga – Horace Martins, 12 mins
• Big Wave Guardians – Luke Stirtz, 90 mins
• Q&A with Greg Long, Andrea Moller and John Hoover
• Raffle – Nixon, YETI, Cronin Surfboards

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

Podcast Sponsor:  Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation

Principal Sponsors:  State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture, Volusia County, Roark, YETI, Sun Bum, Wagner Vasileros – aka The Lawyer Dude, Cap’n Lu’s – A Health Food Store for Pets,  Anson Stoner, Globe Brand Footwear, and Atlantic Center for the Arts.

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

NSB Sponsors:  Flaunt Electric Bicycles, Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Daytona Climbing Company, LunDev Homes, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, Biological Consulting Services, Dr. Phil Stephens at MyEyeDr, Funxion IT, Pura Vida Bracelets, Beachside Tavern, Solento Organic Tequila, Natural Health Practices, Magnolia Acres, White Claw, and Surfrider Foundation Flagler/Volusia.

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

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.