As surf stories go, few document them better than Daniel Duane, author, journalist, and now podcaster.  He shares some great stories from his early surfing days.  And most importantly, he has crafted a podcast that cannot be ignored by us surfers.  A series of shark attacks off Reunion Island left the government, surfers, and local community in shambles.  Let’s get the real story from Dan by listening to his new podcast, Reunion: Shark Attacks in Paradise, now available on The Binge podcast channel.

John JB Brooks, my co-founder for the festival, shares a bit about how he came to be a surfer, competitor, and world traveler.  He has plenty stories in the noggin, but this one’s a thriller.  Get caught up with the upcoming Father’s Day Weekend Festival as well, June 17th and 18th.  Enjoy. -Kevin Miller

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Buy Tickets Here

We’re very happy to announce some incredible programming for June 17th and 18th at Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach.  Starting Friday, June 17th, we’ll open this years Father’s Day celebration with Birth of the Endless Summer, directed by Richard Yelland and starring Dick Metz, (92 years old).  Both will be in attendance for the east coast premiere and available for a Q and A after the film.  This feature documentary traces Metz’s globe trotting in the late fifties and early sixties, drifting around South Africa long enough to find Cape St. Francis firing…  He shared his discovery with Bruce Brown, a nexus that made this perfect wave the pinnacle of Bruce’s masterpiece, The Endless Summer.

Closing out Friday night, we’ll have Matt Costa in the house to share his new work Donde Los Terremotos, a short documentary shot down in Oaxaca, Mexico, with a 100% Costa-scored soundtrack.  And to boot, he’ll be playing a set of music to wrap up the evening in the amphitheater.

The Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez shares the father of Pipeline’s story from burning everyone to G-Land to yoga and more.  It’s visually stunning and carries the exuberance of Stacy Peralta’s practiced story-telling with interviews of Gerry’s contemporaries and the man himself.  We’re bringing writer Sam George out to discuss the picture with fans and do a question and answer session with us after the movie premieres on the east coast June 18th.  We’ll have an excellent collection of short films before the main event, kicking off with doors at 5PM.

Buy Tickets Here

Check out our schedule below for complete details:

June 17, 2022:

5:00PM – Doors open

6:15PM –

• Commencement with John Brooks, Festival Director
• The Birth of the Endless Summer, directed by Richard Yelland and starring Dick Metz – 83 min.
• Q & A with Dick Metz and Richard Yelland
• Raffle – YETI Cooler and more

8:45PM –

• Water III, directed by Morgan Maassen – 6 min.
• DNA, directed by Jacob Vanderwork and Kyle Buthman; Stab – 23 min.
• Donde Los Terremotos, directed by Matt Costa – 23 min.
• Q and A with Matt Costa
• Raffle – Cronin and more

10:15PM –

Live Music – Matt Costa

June 18, 2022

5:00PM – Doors

6:00PM –

• Distant Shore, directed by Ishka Folkwell – 12 min.
• Neilie and Leo, directed by Justin Rubin – 17 min.
• Pretty Physics, directed by Wade Carrol – 5 min.
• The Color of Winter, directed by Pat Stacy – 18 min.
• Raffle – YETI cooler and more

8:30PM –

• The Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez, directed by Stacy Peralta – 110 min.
• Q & A with Sam George
• Raffle – Cronin Surfboard and more

Buy Tickets Here

It’s the walk up to the teller with a note asking for bills from the top two drawers, no dye-packs or GPS, that had me hooked.  Chas Smith’s latest work is a biography of his cousin, Daniel Courson, who robbed over 40 banks in two intense runs, one with a long period on the lam.  Back it all up to a celebrity status evangelical childhood, and you’ve got a page-turner.  Tyler Bruer guest hosts with Kevin Miller.  Enjoy.

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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:  Buell Wetsuits, 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, Pura Vida Bracelets, 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.

Entry fee is $5.00.

Next Dates:  February 5, 2022

Submissions for the 2022 festival are open via our website here.

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 and preserving narrative from artists far and wide while also producing a story-driven podcast, literary group discussions, and artistic workshops.

It’s the walk up to the teller with a note asking for bills from the top two drawers, no dye-packs or GPS, that had me hooked.  Chas Smith’s latest work is a biography of his cousin, Daniel Courson, who robbed over 40 banks in two intense runs, one with a long period on the lam.  Back it all up to a celebrity status evangelical childhood, and you’ve got a page-turner.  Tyler Bruer guest hosts with Kevin Miller.  Enjoy.

The best part about Joe Frizelle is that he doesn’t really seem like a guy who has designed over 1,000 t-shirts and board shorts, but has mostly likely created at least one or many of your previous collection.  His hard work and success has taken him to the best set ups with his heroes calling him into waves.  Enjoy this positively energetic, upbeat chat.

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When we decided to show surf films down in Cocoa Beach, we received unwavering support from Bruce Reynolds in promotion, hospitality, and more, especially at his home base of Cafe’ Surfinista.  The original, and European-influenced, mostly vegan menu puts your body in the driver’s seat for your next surf, and with his support, we managed a few fantastic screenings before we scaled back to our home base of Atlantic Center for the Arts.  Our friendship with him grew, over a few rounds of golf, where he beat me on my home course, and then, later down the road to see hime attending nearly all of our events an hour to the north. His artistic sensibilities and work ethic landed his larger format visual works a showing in the Pabst Visitors Center and Gallery during our main event in 2018 and a feature article in an upcoming issue of The Surfer’s Journal.  His experience in the water, on land, and with the brush has earned him the thankless position of serving on our short documentary jury for 2022 and beyond.  We are proud to have his positive, energetic stoke on the panel, and we can’t wait to get him back up here for more good times.

Eighth Annual Florida Surf Film Festival Announces 2021 Awards

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 19^th and 20^th 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.

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).

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.

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.

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: Aetna Healthcare, 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.

-Kevin Miller

When you’re a podcaster with an unfiltered partner, and also a really good interviewer with a passion for documenting some of the luminaries of our sport, you have to learn to balance the forces of industry and non-endemic sponsors, subscribers, and your own personal efforts toward excellence.  David Lees Scales has been at the surf podcast game a long time.  Enjoy.

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Ben Gravy has made a career out of quick surf trips and quick edits for a dedicated fan base.  He is a traveler, always wearing a smile and spreading positivity and good humor to all fifty states.  Join us for as we catch up with Ben on his way to the Florida Surf Film Festival, February 5, 2022, where we’ll world premiere a documentary about his life.  Enjoy!

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New Smyrna Beach, FL – We are excited to announce programming for February 5th, including the World Premiere of the Ben Gravy (in attendance) documentary, For The Dream, narrated by Chris Cote (in attendance), with Ben and Chris in attendance to meet and greet our fans and answer questions.

Also screening will be a new Keith Malloy (Bimarian Films and YETI) short documentary called Beyond Sunset, showcasing the life of Hawaiian, female, big wave surfer Emi Erickson.

In addition, Sweet Adventure, will premiere on the East Coast, the latest offering from festival alumni Peter Hamblin, featuring Albee Layer, Matt Meola, Nora Vasconcellos, and narrated by NBC Sports Commentator Selema Masakela.

Peter, Albee, and Selema are planning to attend what is sure to be a legendary night of film and friendship.

Here’s the schedule for the Amphitheater at Atlantic Center for the Arts:

• 5:00PM – Doors Open
• 6:00PM – Commencement with John Brooks, Festival Director
• 6:10PM – Beyond Sunset, by Keith Malloy, Bimarian Films, YETI; and Sweet Adventure by Peter Hamblin, starring Albee Layer, Matt Meola, and Nora Vasconcellos
• 7:25PM – Q & A with Peter Hamblin, Albee Layer
• 7:35PM – Raffle – Roark, Creatures of Leisure, and more!
• 7:40PM – Intermission
• 8:30PM – For the Dream, by Sean Davis, Starring Ben Gravy
• 10:00PM – Q & A with Ben Gravy
• 10:10PM – Raffle – Cronin Surfboard, YETI Cooler, Creatures of Leisure

Clancy’s Cantina will be serving up tacos and poke bowls and our full bar will feature NSB Brewery beers along with wine and cocktails.

We strongly suggest that you and your loved ones ONLY attend this event if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, since we may end up in the blackbox theater, as a backup plan, and it’s 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.

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, Buell Wetsuits, 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, Pura Vida Bracelets, 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.