The British Surf Film Festival announce dates for 2011 festival

An article by howard    No Comments

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 August, 2011 : – - Taking place 22 and 23 September, the British Surf Film Festival, to be held at the new Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay and sponsored by Offsure Surf, aims to celebrate the very essence of surf culture, with a selection of old and new surf feature films and documentaries and a launch of the hottest new home-grown talent.

The premier showcase for surf film and lifestyle in the UK, the BSFF will combine an iconic mix of old classics and contemporary masterpieces alongside independent films and photography to take attendees on a journey through surfing’s heritage.

The festival is now open for entries into the Homegrown Board Shorts Surf Film Competition, in association with the Cornwall Film Festival, which allows surf filmmakers to present their work to a larger audience. There’s an excellent first prize up for grabs courtesy of Errant Surf Holidays, consisting of a contract to be their official videographer, a holiday in Morocco and £500.  In addition, an award for ‘Rising Star’ talent, an HD Bullet camera, will be sponsored by Dogcam.

The submission period ends Thursday, 1 September. The screening panel will comprise credible individuals within the surf, art, and film communities.
In between screenings, there will be Q&A sessions with filmmakers and notable surfers, discussions and meet-and-greets with surfing’s elite. A surfing gallery will be open to the public for the duration of the event and will showcase entries into the Homegrown photography competition, for which submissions are now being taken.

On Saturday, 24 September, the Cornwall Film Festival’s Board Shorts party will kick into high gear at Lusty Glaze beach with a live musical gig and a second screening of all the short-film entries right on the sand.

“As the hub of British surfing, Newquay has often been the first stop for showcasing new, independent, as well as big budget surf films, but has, until now, been lacking a fitting cinema to do them justice,” commented Greg Martin, Editor of Wavelength Magazine.  “We are proud to be media sponsors of the inaugural British Surf Film Festival which, for the first time, will bring the latest releases, iconic classics and homegrown talent under one roof at one event.”

“The event aims to celebrate the cultural aspect of Surfing and we believe we’ve got the perfect combination of films, photography and live music to do just that”, said Carla Lamb, Festival Organiser. “Attracting surfers, film lovers and makers alike we hope to position the British Surf Film Festival in the hearts and minds of the surfing community.”

Lerryn Rowe, Lighthouse Cinema Manager, said, “We are thrilled to be hosting the first British Surf Film Festival at Lighthouse Cinema. Being right in the heart of Newquay it is the perfect location for surfers and film makers to see surf films on the big screen. This is an event that we have wanted to run for some time and we are really pleased to be working with professionals within the industry to help make this an unmissable event on the surfing calendar.”
“The Cornwall Film Festival is thrilled to join up with the new British Surf Film Festival,” said CFF director Donna Anton.

“We started Board Shorts in 2005 to combine love of film with a variety of board sports – and over the years it morphed into a short-surf-film fest unique to Cornwall. Moving the CFF to Newquay this year, after nine years in Falmouth, has given us the opportunity to expand Board Shorts in exciting new ways.”

The website goes live on 1 August at

www.britishsurffilmfestival.com

www.facebook.com/britishsurffilmfestival

www.twitter.com/britishsurffilm

www.britishsurffilmfestival.com

Photograph of Surfer in Newquay by Howard Oates [Exposia Photography]