Solid reporting turned narrative, complete with fashion, religious, cultural, surf critique from Yemen to Beirut to Djibouti, Chas Smith absolutely nails this three part memoir of making his way through radical Islam headwaters, war correspondent dues, and AK-47 peppered line-ups.  Pick up his new work and enjoy!  Reports From Hell can be found on Amazon.

Due to transmission and health risks presented by COVID-19, our gathering of surf movie fans must be deferred until 2021.  Therefore, Florida Surf Film Festival presented by Monster Energy is announcing the following:

1.     November 13-14, 2020, festival is canceled.

2.     February 2021 event is canceled, and we’re planning to go live June of 2021 on Father’s Day Weekend.

3.     All sponsorships will be extended by 12 months from their original expiration date.

The more we thought about executing an online event, the more we realized that online is not who we are.  Our celebrations are defined by live, in-person events, and you, the collective fan, already have such a plethora of content that an online festival would just be another piñata among piñatas.  And filmmakers don’t get the same thrill as attending in-person with their fans, sharing their months or years-long work.  March 7, 2020, was ironically a huge success, and as such, those films will be included in the 2021 festival competition.

Submissions for the 2021 festival are open via our website here. We will begin the process of acceptance for the 2021 festival all over again, and we will notify filmmakers individually if their 2020 official selection status will remain active for 2021.

In lieu of on-ground content, we have added the Surf Stories Podcast, which includes the FSFF Book Line-Up.  Chas Smith’s new work Reports From Hell is now available for purchase and can be found on Amazon.  We will be meeting Thursday, September 3, 2020, at 9PM EDT for cocktails and book talk.  Here’s the link to join us for the chat via Zoom. Do yourself a favor and download the app on your device before joining… The link won’t be active until 8:55PM on Thursday.  We will record this book line-up and release it as a podcast the following day.

Stay safe.  This virus is no joke, and it will be much more enjoyable to commune without the heightened risk of potentially impacting loved ones and the community at-large.  In the meantime, we’ll be talking with your favorite filmmakers and more from surfing’s past, present, and future.

Subscribe NOW (Sometime, it takes a couple hours for the latest episode to populate. Check your device’s “recent” updates for the latest episode.): Apple – Spotify – Libsyn

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.

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

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

Sponsors: SurfEars, Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Dragon Alliance, LunDev Homes, New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Dex Imaging, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, Biological Consulting Services, Pura Vida Bracelets, La Ponderosa Beach and Jungle Resort, Total Vision, Funxion IT, Holistic Movements, NSB Spine and Injury Center, Beachside Tavern, Surfrider Foundation (Cocoa Beach and Flagler/Volusia Chapters), and Hampton Inn.

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

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.

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.

The worst part of being world champ?  Still politely having to ease out at Big Rock and wait for Joel Tudor to call you into a wave.  That’s how nice CJ is…  Clearly, if it were John or Kevin, they’d paddle deep on everyone and stroke into set waves, plural.  CJ, ah, he’ll just slot one slabbing nugg and be good to go…  We always want more CJ stories, but this ought to get you started.

Check out And Two If By Sea on Amazon Prime here.  Also, brush up on your CJ history here at Encyclopedia of Surfing if you just crawled out of a time machine…  Enjoy, until he returns for more…

“Dirtbaggin’ it” is how a server from The Chart House goes on to win Video of the Year at the Surfer Poll awards in 2001.  The Fifth Symphony Document deserves every bit and more.  It still holds up, and while it was popular at the time, it’s probably better classified as a cult classic.  Slater, Eddie Vedder, Dorian, Hayes, Browning…  The magic comes out on screen… Super fan boys, Kevin and John welcome Chad to Surf Stories.

OH, CANADA with Marcus Paladino

We’ve dropped another Surf Story…  At almost thirty years-old, Canadian-born lens-man, Marcus Paladino has quickly carved out a niche in cold water surf photography. Hear how he almost landed in Southern Italy, and how Canada’s best surfers have him on speed dial. Hard work and persistence has landed his spectacular imagery on the pages and websites of our sport.

At age 19, Sean Gilbert had no idea what to do with his life until he found himself on the set of a feature film.  From that moment on, he dedicated his career to mastering the craft of cinematography and technical camera work.  From his work on Avatar and Avatar sequels to Pirates of the Carribean, Into the Blue, and many other TV and Film productions, Sean continues his work alongside a burgeoning rental house business called Flocam.  Surf stories buried in that career emerge with Kevin and John.

As expected, our June 20 and August 22 screenings have officially been cancelled due to social distancing guidelines, and of course, your health.  Bummer…  But we’ll hopefully be back in November on the 13th and 14th.  We’ll keep you up to date as things develope.

Some exciting news… On June 9, 2020, we launched the FSFF – Surf Stories Podcast.  Our favorite movies tell brilliant, sometimes scary, always inspiring stories documented for the silver screen.  Since we can’t do that right now, we decided to record some great adventures for your listening pleasure.  In both Q and A and narrative format, we will hear stories from local surfers, filmmakers from around the world, and inspiring and/or charismatic folks who have a story to share.  Our first story comes from local surfer and lightning strike survivor, Frank Gilday, as he recounts that harrowing experience and his subsequent journey back to surfing.

In August, we will also launch the FSFF Book Line-Up – This literary/gab-session with the author will include the public in the Zoom session in an open-ended, but probably an hour long, cocktail chat.  We will host our first with Chas Smith, who is dropping his new memoir, Reports from Hell, in July.  Pre-order here!  The date of the first session will be August 27th.

In the meantime, please continue to stay healthy and sane and remember, we are all in this together so let’s look after one another and spread some love and joy.

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.

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

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

Sponsors: SurfEars, Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Dragon Alliance, LunDev Homes, New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Dex Imaging, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, Biological Consulting Services, Pura Vida Bracelets, La Ponderosa Beach and Jungle Resort, Total Vision, Funxion IT, Holistic Movements, NSB Spine and Injury Center, Beachside Tavern, Surfrider Foundation (Cocoa Beach and Flagler/Volusia Chapters), and Hampton Inn.

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

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.

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.

In June 2018, Frank Gilday and six others huddled under a boardwalk while a squall roared over New Smyrna Beach inlet with lightning popping everywhere.  Some ran, some huddled, and in this case, Frank and his friends were the unlucky group who took the brunt of a damaging lightning strike. Hosted by John Brooks and Kevin Miller.

It’s our sincere pleasure to welcome Justin Purser to the short documentary jury.  Having taken the Viewers’ Choice – Feature award at the 2019 Florida Surf Film Festival for his six year long project And Two If By Sea about the competitive and complicated lives of twin brothers, CJ and Damien Hobgood, he has more than left a little skin on the pavement along the grueling and hard-earned road of documentary filmmaker.  We look forward to many more projects will his finely-crafted touch.

Born & raised in Florida, Justin started out at a very young age shooting surf films for international brands such as Quiksilver, Billabong, & Rusty with iconic professional surfers such as the Hobgood brothers and Kelly Slater. After moving to Los Angeles, he began working at Academy Award winning production companies A Band Apart and Anonymous Content where he was able to learn the directing process from the world’s top directors. He grew his role into writing music video treatments for directors on music videos such as Beyonce “Single Ladies”, Beyonce and Shakira “Beautiful Liar”, Pink “Nobody Knows”, etc. He went on to write Beyonce’s live performances for the 2011 Grammy Awards and her appearance on the final Oprah Winfrey show. Justin also co-produced The Shooter Series and Richard Brown (True Detective) where he directed interviews with Jay Z, Mark Wahlberg, and Outkast.

Justin was one of the original creators and directors of Maker Studios (acquired by Walt Disney Corp.) that pioneered the Multi Channel Network YouTube centric companies of today. He conceptualized and directed one of Maker’s first ever YouTube talent driven branded campaign (Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas) creating the model on how brands advertise utilizing YouTube & influencers. He is the only director to concept and direct a brand sponsored video (Cosmopolitan Magazine & Nivea) to take number one on the Ad Age Viral Charts with no Advertising Agency involvement beating out top brands such as Nike, Pepsi, & Toyota. He has also directed music videos for major record labels and companies such as Interscope, Warner Bros, Capitol, Apple Music, & Sony; for artists Eva Simmons, Corey Taylor, Jason Derulo, A Fine Frenzy, Bret Michaels, The Midi Mafia, Miggs starring Lindsay Lohan, Mickey Avalon, Taproot, along with a fun little PSA for To Write Love On Her Arms with Joaquin Phoenix, Miley Cyrus, & Liv Tyler.

New Smyrna Beach, FL – Florida Surf Film Festival (FSFF), presented by Monster Energy, will host its’ first event of the year at Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on March 7, 2020, at 5PM. Movies begin at 6PM. The first quarterly screening will feature new work from Keith Malloy starring Jack Johnson, Spencer Frost, Jack Coleman, and Nate Laverty.  Tickets are $20 for an adult and $10 for a child 10 and under.  We also have our Green Room Annual Membership at $200, which includes:

• YETI FSFF 20 oz. tumbler with lid
• FSFF t-shirt
• FSFF posters (by request)
• Entry for quarterly screenings for 12 months
• Meal ticket for all NSB events
• 4 Drink tickets for each NSB event
• RESERVED SEATING by request
• Annual Encyclopedia of Surfing Subscription
• Exclusive annual subscriptions discount from our partner – The SurfNetwork at 10% off.  Send an email for your discount to kevin@floridasurffilmfestival.com after you’ve signed up.

Ryan Bingham and Jack Johnson for Yeti.  Photo: Jeff Johnson

Keith Malloy, in partnership with YETI, turns on the camera in The Midnight Hour with surfer-first, singer-songwriter-second Jack Johnson, and singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham.  What we get is a master class in songwriting from two authentic, humble, hardworking musicians; one of which happens to be able to ride flawlessly through 10 foot Haliewa barrels.  Check out the trailer here as soon as it becomes available.

A Corner of the Earth is a cinematic exploration of surfing in the brutal northern winter featuring aspiring professional surfer Fraser Dovell who is struggling with the harsh realities of competitive surfing.  Along with filmmaker Spencer Frost and photographer Guy Williment, Fraser throws himself out of his comfort zone to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.  The trio journey to a far Corner of the Earth to search for waves in the wildly beautiful and treacherous solitude of the arctic.  Battling extremes of weather and close encounters with the majesty of nature, Fraser comes to a new appreciation of what it means to be a surfer. Check out the trailer here:

Nate Laverty’s Transition, Volume 2 is set in the rugged rainforest of the west coast of Vancouver Island, which brings the story of professional surfers, Pete Devries and Noah Cohen to life. When introducing a child into Pete’s life changes his priorities, mentorship becomes an important part of fulfilling his goals as a surfer. Noah’s failure to qualify for the Canadian National Surf Team alters his path as his dreams of competing in the 2020 olympic games are now in the past. Instead, his mission to follow the best swells from Mexico to Australia alongside good friends becomes his new goal.

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

Sponsors: SurfEars, Scott Yurchison Real Estate, Dragon Alliance, LunDev Homes, New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company, Cigar City Brewing, Dex Imaging, Nixon, Mangrove Bay Design, Biological Consulting Services, Pura Vida Bracelets, La Ponderosa Beach and Jungle Resort, Total Vision, Funxion IT, Holistic Movements, NSB Spine and Injury Center, Beachside Tavern, Surfrider Foundation (Cocoa Beach and Flagler/Volusia Chapters), and Hampton Inn.

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

Encyclopedia of Surfing provides our historical and archival needs.

-Kevin Miller

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.

Future Dates:

2020 – March 7, June 20, August 22, and November 13th and 14th