San Diego Surf Film Festival Announces Submission Dates and Artist Andy Davis

                          SDSFF 2015 to Showcase Surf Filmmakers Around the Globe

Misfit Pictures welcomes the return of the internationally-acclaimed San Diego Surf Film Festival May 20-23, 2015.  The fourth annual, multi-venue festival will include 25 international surf films, a VIP party, dozens of filmmakers and producers in attendance, in-depth Q&As, filmmaker panels, live art, music, great food, epic surf sessions and raging after-parties.  

The San Diego Surf Film Festival has issued an official call for submissions for this year to filmmakers around the globe.  For a direct link to submit films, go here.  Submissions will be accepted from Jan. 16-April 1st with the officially selected films being announced April 20.  The SDSFF focuses on strong narrative films from international surf cultures and has presented many films that have won awards worldwide.

In addition, the SDSFF 2015 featured artist will be Andy Davis, whose unique and whimsical surf art and designs casually capture surfing’s iconic culture.  “It's an honor for us to have Andy join us for the festival.  Andy is a great human being and we have always loved his artwork.  He is the perfect addition to our festival and we couldn’t be happier,” said founder and director Pierce Michael Kavanagh, who along with his wife Petra, created the festival in 2012.

The San Diego Surf Film Festival has quickly become one of the largest of its kind in the world.  Last year’s festival sold out all four days and attracted more than 2,200 people, who came from all over the globe to celebrate the art of surf cinema.  

“Every year we strive to present the finest in international surf cinema and award-winning filmmakers to a very enthusiastic hometown crowd and everybody has an amazing time,” Kavanagh said.  “The response we have received right from the festival’s inception has been nothing short of amazing.  We set the bar pretty high for ourselves and work really hard because San Diego deserves a surf film festival of this caliber.”

Argentina filmmakers Joaquin & Julian Azulay, whose film Tierra de Patagones won Best Feature at SDSFF 2014 summed up their experience perfectly: “The SDSFF was like being in Argentina in a soccer match – people enjoyed every film, they shouted, felt things, suffered, clapped and hooted.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. 

For more information about the San Diego Surf Film Festival, please visit: http://www.sandiegosurffilmfestival.com/.

About Misfit Pictures:

Misfit Pictures is a San Diego-based award-winning production company that creates thought-provoking, visually stunning pieces. The company’s goal is to capture stories that are shot beautifully and will inspire people to make the world a better place. Misfit pictures’ projects have included the critically-acclaimed films Manufacturing Stoke (2011) and What the Sea Gives Me (2014).  For more information please visit http://misfitpictures.com/.

Media Contact:

Andrea Siedsma

andrea@saltwatermedia.net

Filmmaking and Fish Guts: A Conversation with Sustainability Advocate Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes with her sustainable shred stick shaped by Michael Emery

 

By Andrea Siedsma

In her youth, Courtney Hayes spent a lot of time on the waterfront in Gloucester, Mass., America’s oldest fishing port. It is in this city on Massachusetts’ North Shore where Courtney grew her sea legs, so-to-speak, as the daughter of a fisherman.

Courtney, now an award-winning documentary producer and director (PBS, History Channel and Discovery Channel), is still inspired by the sea and the people who use it to create commerce and recreation. In 2010, she launched CetoSurf.com, a global community of more than 11,000 surfers and sea lovers dedicated to promoting ocean-friendly businesses and marine conservation efforts.

Last year, Courtney made the journey to San Diego to volunteer for the first ever San Diego Surf Film Festival. She loved it so much that she is coming back this year. The SDSFF is honored to have such a talented and impressive sea sister as a member of our tribe.

Below, Courtney talks about her film career, sustainability and her New England roots.

Age: 48

Hobbies: Surfing, SUPing, handplaning, sailing, and snorkeling.

What Fuels Me: The ocean, adventure, laughter, friendship, and salty people who have crazy ideas.

Favorite Quote: “Surf something!”

Growing up in Gloucester: Gloucester, Mass. was a magical place to grow up. As the daughter of a tuna fisherman, I spent a lot of time on the water. One of my first memories is being out on my father’s boat, racing alongside a giant school of blue fin tuna. Of course, those sort of peaceful moments were often punctuated by my dad screaming, “We’re hooked uuuup!”

Courtney practicing her moves on an early upcycled shortboard. Circa 1977

 

 

Sea Connection: My first job was “chum girl” on my dad’s tuna boat. Picture “Wicked Tuna,” but with an 8-year-old girl as second mate. I spent a good chunk of my formative years covered in fish guts!  In the summer, we were always in the ocean – swimming, sailing, and fishing. I started surfing six years ago and moved back to Gloucester recently. I love being in the ocean now more than ever.

New England Core: Winter surfing in New England is like nothing else. My favorite memories include surfing during a mid-January blizzard. Unlike some of the really hard core guys, I can only handle 38-degree water a few times a winter. The water finally got up to 47 last week and you’d think it was the Caribbean – one kid was out in a 3/2 suit sans hood, gloves and booties. New England surfers are classic!

‘Reel’ Inspirations: My documentary filmmaking career began at Frontline/PBS in 1991. In 2000, I started working on an independent film about the New English fishery called “A Fish Story” - a tale of two women who lead their communities in a battle for control of the ocean. I’ve always loved the adventure that comes along with the job; every new film feels like a free pass to a world filled with amazing people and places.

Courtney blowing paulownia dust off her hand shaped Wegener Paipo at a Grain Surfboard Workshop in 2012.

Ceto Surf: A few years ago, I got really interested in new media and the power of collective action and I wanted to do something to connect surfers and promote ocean health. Ceto seeks to foster a healthy ocean and a more sustainable surf industry by making it fun and easy to share information about ocean friendly innovators, artists and activists.

SDSFF Connection: I met Pierce and Petra Kavanagh in 2011 after seeing their great film “Manufacturing Stoke” at Grain Surfboards in Maine. A close friend from high school lives in La Jolla and I’ve been lucky enough to travel to San Diego many times in recent years. I volunteered at the 2012 SDSFF because I love the idea of the global surf community coming together – what a blast!!

What’s Next: San Diego Surf Film Fest 2013!!… And ask me about Fiji 2014 next week J

Check out http://cetosurf.com/