The Carolina Surf Film Festival (CSFF), now in its second year, will screen five feature films and 10 short films at the Brickhouse Plantation on Fri. Oct. 16 and Sat. Oct. 17.
While the festival’s proposed mission is to “celebrate the vibrant surf culture of the Carolinas by showcasing the artistic vision and expression of surf films from our region and around the globe,” this year’s selections don’t include any Lowcountry surf films. We’ll give ’em the benefit of the doubt — we know the Washout isn’t exactly prime time when it comes to big kahunas (are we doing this right?), and assume that there just weren’t that many local entries.
The festival started last year, founded by surfers Chuck Gainey, Chad Davis, and Bo Edmunds. In an Oct. 2014 City Paper article we sat down with the founders to talk about the inspiration behind the fest — other than, of course, gnarly cinematography — and they talked about Charleston’s tight-knit surfing community as well as the importance of giving back to foundations like Surfers Healing, a nonprofit that teaches kids with autism how to surf. This year’s festival will, like last year, include a silent auction to benefit Surfers Healing.
There will also be drawings for giveaways (of pricey stuff like skateboards, surfboards, and sunglasses), vendors, local artists, live music, food trucks, and craft beer. Talk about a party.
Here’s the lineup:
Feature Films
Behind the Tide Filmed in Australia, Cornwall, and France, this documentary follows both surfers — including Neal Purchase Jr., Dane Peterson, and Thomas Bexon — and the shapers and photographers that capture the action on the water.
Strange Rumblings in Shangri-La This documentary travels from Iceland to Mozambique on its search for the “holy grail” of surfing locations.
The Salt Trail This film, according to its synopsis, “delves into the true meaning of surf travel,” moving through Indonesia, Balie, and The Mentawai Islands.
Headache Is a German film — a first, according to their website — that follows surfers as they take on really, really, really cold water.
The SUP Movie We don’t know if Stand Up Paddleboarding is kosher with surfers (anyone care to weigh in?) but this film makes it look pretty badass as it follows SUPers catching mad waves.
Shorts
The Fisherman’s Son Recently named the Best Film at this year’s Allianz Portuguese Film Festival, this short follows surfer Roman Navarro as he seeks to protect the culture and environment of the Chilean coast.
El Chino This short is about John Chino’s secluded surfboard workshop in Boston’s Chinatown. Whoda thunk it?
GIRL GO BIG! This foreign-language short is about Swiss surfer Alena Ehrenbold, the first surfer girl to start tow-in. We didn’t know what that was, so here’s a brief description a la wiki: “Tow-in surfing is a surfing technique which uses artificial assistance to allow the surfer to catch faster moving waves than was traditionally possible when paddling by hand.”
Making My Own Board Filmed in South Devon England, this self-explanatory short was a school project by Dylan Pegg. Precious.
Between Roses & Thorns by Peregrinus is from Lisbon, Portugal.
Changing Tides hails from Portland, Ore., and is about surfing in the northwest. The film focuses on a surf nonprofit, Warm Current, located in Cascadia, Ore.
Fathoms of Consciousness recently screened at the Allianz Portuguese Film Festival.
Salty Air Stare is a short by Garrett and Mary Spencer from Satellite Beach, Fla.
Mute is a 20-minute compilation of surfer Nate Tyler’s best free-surfing moments.
Home This film captures Matt Meola surfing at home in Maui.
Preview the films and pick your faves at the fest — there will be awards for audience choice best feature and short.
A screening panel will award the following commendations: Best Picture – Feature, Best Cinematography – Feature, Best Soundtrack – Feature, Best Picture – Short, Best Cinematography – Short.
STRANGE RUMBLINGS (THE ICELAND PART) from GLOBE on Vimeo. Love Best of Charleston? Help the Charleston City Paper keep Best of Charleston going every year with a donation. Or sign up to become a member of the Charleston City Paper club.