In less than a month, the 7th Annual Surfalorus Film Festival returns to the Outer Banks for three nights of stellar surf films, live music, surfcraft, shapers, surf-inspired art, some fire and tons of family-friendly fun.
Film curators selected Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s pioneer surf documentary Momentum Generation, Outer Banks local Logan Marshall’s OUTER and Graham Nash’s Can’t Steal Our Vibe to be featured at Surfalorus, which will be held September 20-22.
“We were blown away by the caliber of films submitted this year,” said Rachel Taylor, Cucalorus’ Programming Director. “It’s amazing how you can take this limited category, oceanography and surfing, and find such a breadth of people and places represented. We traveled from local coastlines to Cape Town, South Africa where Graham Nash’s documentary Can’t Steal Our Vibes chronicles Waves for Change, helping young people overcome poverty and abuse, and to Kochi, India, in Luke Williams’ The Chapati Surfers, where North Carolinians team up with Home of Hope India to launch a surf camp for orphaned girls. Some of this year’s submissions gave us deep belly laughs while capturing vulnerable truths, and some showed us immense hope for the efforts to protect our oceans and to empower our young people- and of course, so many good vibes.”
The free film festival kicks off on September 20 upstairs at Jennette’s Pier, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The doors open at 6:30pm with live music by members of Blurky’s Quirky Friends and local surfboard shapers and artists showcasing their handcrafted goods. The single must see surf documentary of the year, Momentum Generation, will make its North Carolina premier on Thursday at Surfalorus. While viewing Momentum Generation, Surfalorus guests can enjoy kombucha from Haypoint Live Culture Foods and froyo from Surfin Spoon.
The Surfalorus Lifetime Achievement award will be given on Thursday evening at Jennette’s Pier. This award will be presented to a filmmaker who has had a significant impact on surf culture in North Carolina.
On Friday, Surfalorus will travel to Dare County Arts Council in Manteo for an evening of surfboard history. Charlie Huff will be spinning old school surf vinyl while guests immerse in surf art and a series of short surf flicks, including Graham Nash’s Can’t Steal Our Vibe. Film festivalgoers will watch these shorts surrounded by an extraordinary display of surfboards spanning the evolution of surfcraft from ancient to modern, curated by Steve Wise. Throughout Friday evening, Surfalorus guests will be invited to vote for their favorite short film.
“I am stoked for this year’s event,” said Outer Banks Boarding Company owner and surfboard shaper Lynn Shell. “The exhibit will not only be a collection of vintage boards, but a chronological timeline up to present day designs and technologies.”
Surfalorus will conclude with a night of surf films under the moonlight in the backyard of the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills. The doors will open at 6:30pm so guests can enjoy dinner and drinks from the brewery, peruse surf art, local shapers and their boards and then settle in for an evening of films, including Logan Marshall’s feature film OUTER.
"I’m stoked to be apart of Surfalorus again," said filmmaker Logan Marshall. "I premiered my first film at Surfalorus last year and I’m excited to bring my first feature film to the event this year. I’m looking forward to getting the local crowd together to watch some great surf films, it’s going to be a lot of fun!"
Saturday night’s intermission will include presenting awards for Best Feature Film, Best Soundtrack, Best Short and Surfalorus Emerging Filmmaker of the Year followed by a poi fire performance by Outer Banks local Panda Daniels before the much anticipated feature film.
The Surfalorus after party will kickoff at 10pm at the Outer Banks Brewing Station with live music by southern-fried salsa surfabilly legends The Cashmere Jungle Lords.
“We are very excited and honored to be a part of this event,” said Cashmere Jungle Lords bandleader Dominic Carpin. “Come for the indie surf films, stay for the after party! After the last film we will gather inside for a two set electric love explosion of twang-a-dang rock and roll heehaw whimmy-diddle Jungle Rock. Wear your best Tarzan or Jane loincloth. Scallop shell bikini top with grass skirt also acceptable.”
The following artists and surfboard shapers will be showcasing their talents throughout the event: seashell jewelry artist Salt Hippy, surf fin acrylic artist Angel Fritz, resin jewelry artist Mark Slagle, surf photographer Daniel Pullen, literary artists Jesse and Whitney Hines, sculptor Dumay Gorham, and acrylic artist Dawn Moraga along with surfboard shapers David Rohde, Mike Rowe, Rascoe Hunt, Murray Ross, Lynn Shell, Bob Sykes, Asher Hunt, and Graham Leggat.
All three evenings of Surfalorus will also feature a raffle. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 7 tickets for $5. They can be purchased at the screenings. Winners will be announced on Saturday evening.
Surfalorus is a premier collaboration between Dare County Arts Council and Wilmington, NC-based Cucalorus, which will host its 24th annual festival November 7-11.
Surfalorus is sponsored by Resort Realty, Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, The Tarheel Motel, The See Sea Motel, Cola Vaughan Realty, Bonzer Shack, Banks Surf Supply, Cavalier Surf Shop, Secret Spot Surf Shop, and Birthday Suits.
This project is funded in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
For more information about Surfalorus, please call (252) 473 5558 or click here.