San Diego Surf Film Festival Brings Global Surfing to the Big Screen

 Fourth Annual Festival Announces Stellar International Line-Up

The 2015 San Diego Surf Film Festival has announced a diverse line-up of 24 international films – from big-wave surfing in South Africa to an epic adventure down the Ganges River to bridging cultural and gender divides in a remote part of Iran.

The festival, May 20-23 at Sherwood Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, will feature many films this year that are San Diego, California, and world premieres.

“Our majestic blue marble is made up of 71 percent water, which lends itself to an abundance of surf-related films and stunning cinematography. We are stoked to showcase surf films from around the planet, from popular surf destinations such as Hawaii, California, France, Australia and the Maldives, to Rio de Janeiro, the south of Portugal, and even a small village of El Salvador,” said Pierce Kavanagh, the festival’s co-creator and director.  “Every year we work diligently to create a festival that visiting filmmakers are proud to be a part of and that the San Diego surfing community can claim as its very own. This year we even had to move to the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla to accommodate the growing crowds. The 500-person theater overlooking the ocean is the perfect venue and the response has already been overwhelming.”

 

Radness at the Sherwood Theater, Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla

The SDSFF is unique in that it includes films, art and music that embody the entire culture. Besides stellar films, this year's festival will includ  a VIP party at Green Flash Brewing Co., dozens of filmmakers and producers in attendance, in-depth Q&As, filmmaker panels, live art and music, great food, epic surf sessions and raging after-parties. Special events happening during SDSFF 2015 include a tribute to late surf cinematographer Sonny Miller, and a presentation by well-known surf and nature photographer Chris Burkard (http://www.chrisburkard.com/).

Chris Burkard continues to amaze us with his lens skills

For tickets and more information please visit http://www.sandiegosurffilmfestival.com/.  Hoots & Shakas to all of SDSFF 2105 presenting sponsors:  Daphne’s California Greek, misfit pictures, Green Flash Brewing Co., Xsories, Xtreme, and Verb TV.

Below is a list of the SDSFF 2015 official film selections:

Features:

Behind the Tide

Gathering

Into the Sea

Ocean Driven

Oney Anwar: Chasing the Dream

Peninsula

Strange Rumblings in Shangra La

RICO - 60 years of Rico de Souza and surfing in Brazil

Short Films

Always on the Road: Algarve, Portugal

Behind the Seen

Bird's Surf Shed

El Chino

Foliage

Icon: Alex Gray

June Gloom

Mike Coots

North to Noosa

Out of the Black and into the Blue

Rail to Rail

Saturday 6:27am

The Coast

What Does Freedom Mean to You?

Willow Creek

Worm

SDSFF 2015 Screening Panel Spotlight

From professional artists to legendary and pioneering surfers, community and environmental activists, educators, filmmakers, and just all around cool and talented people, the SDSFF 2015 screening panel is nothing short of amazing. Hoots & Shakas to these fine panelists, who have worked very hard to make sure you all see the finest in surf cinema.

Cher Pendarvis

Cher Pendarvis is a seasoned artist, author and surfer, and a well loved and respected member of the surfing community.  Cher, who recently celebrated 50 years of wave riding, was a founding member of Women's International Surfing Association (WISA). She is also a pioneer surf board shaper. She has designed, shaped and glassed boards, foiled fins, and was one of the first surfers to ride a fish.

After graduating college, Cher became the first female staff member at Surfing Magazine, where she worked as an Art Associate from 1975–1978. Cher enjoys combining her art with surfing—painting on paper, canvas, digital painting, and on surfboards, as well as photography and video. Travels to paint and surf have taken her throughout California, the East Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Cher’s husband, Steve Pendarvis is an innovative surfboard builder (Pendoflex surfboards)and she enjoys helping him, and often paints his boards. Explore Cher's beautiful and whimsical artwork at www.pendarvis-studios.com.

 

Cori Schumacher. Photo: Maria Cerda

Cori Schumacher has not only made a big splash in women's professional surfing, but has also unleashed her skills in environmental and social activism.  The Southern California native and three-time world longboard champion is also the founder of the Inspire Initiative, a nonprofit organization created to enrich and empower women of all ages through participation in surfing while emphasizing education, media literacy and building a core community of leaders that will effect positive change in the world. Check out Cori's intelligent and witty musings at http://www.corischumacher.com/.

 

Surf Sista. Photo: Mike Avalon

Mary Mills, aka "Surf Sista," is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor who gets her kicks surfing, skateboarding and playing the drums. Her musings on the Southern California surf experience can be found on her blog “Black People Don’t Surf."

Keith Boyd

 Keith is a native Mainer who transplanted to the West Coast a few lifetimes ago and fell instantly in love with all things Pacific and oceanic. He has supported his passions for music, art and waves by teaching special education for the past 14 years. Previous to that he served in the Peace Corps (Mauritania, West Africa '92-'95) and taught science for the San Diego County Office of Education.

When not keeping his gills wet on various surf craft (mats, paipos and handplanes in particular), he can be found strumming anything with strings, scribbling on any blank surface, running a few miles, or hanging out with his amazing wife and two daughters. To put it plainly, Keith is stoked out of his mind to be involved with the San Diego Surf Film Festival! He is deeply honored to have been asked to participate as a panel member and looks forward to working with and learning from such an incredible group of people.

 

Adrian Lopez. Photo: Andy Quinn

I'm a mind molder of the visual arts at the high school level in Huntington Beach, Calif. When I'm not teaching or making art I'm in the water bodysurfing, paipoing (I don't know if that’s even a word), surfing, and whatever else gives me water time. Shakas!

 

Andy Quinn. Sasquatch

Andy Quinn is an award-winning non-fiction filmmaker, outdoor enthusiast, father, husband, former marine biologist, and current Sasquatch.  Andy is a reluctant resident of Los Angeles County who enjoys cooking, eating, traveling, and anything else that requires heavy-breathing and perspiration, with the exception of over-heated interior spaces.  Mr. Quinn is tolerated by his lovely wife, adorable young son, and two Australian shepherds. As a past SDSFF award winner, Andy is excited to be involved in this year’s selection process.

 

Chris Viverito

The Captain Surfs is a multimedia artist from the North Shore of Oahu, specializing in the not so fine arts and having good times. 

The SDSFF will announce films on April 21. Visit http://www.sandiegosurffilmfestival.com/ for tickets and more info.