January 2020 will see the running of the 10th annual Bells Beach Surf Film Festival.
Since its humble beginnings back in 2010, the festival has grown to become the longest-running surf film festival in Australia bringing the world’s best surf films to Torquay every summer.
This year the festival has grown to present 15 surf films over five nights at the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay. The program is packed with a wide range of award-winning surf films from Australia, USA, Argentina, the UK and Hawaii.
Highlights at this year’s festival include a special screening of TROUBLE: the Lisa Anderson story on Opening night (Thursday 2nd January). TROUBLE tells the story of USA surfer Lisa Anderson who would win four world surfing titles over two turbulent decades. This is no Gidget film… more a warts and all journey with one of the world’s best-ever female surfers. Living on a beach, drugs, beach bums, a stint in juvenile hall… this remarkable documentary will have its Surf Coast Premiere next month.
Also screening at the festival is DELAMA WARRI, filmed and produced by local Surf Coast longboarder Sam Suendermann, a fantastic film celebrating the spirit of female surfing in Wadawurrong Country featuring local surfers and artists.
Other films to screen include PACIFICO also made by a local Melbourne based surf filmmaker as they travel in a van from California to Patagonia at the Southern tip of South America searching for the perfect wave. CORNER OF THE EARTH is another great film looking at the lives of surfers who seek that perfect wave deep in the Arctic circle.
A strong companion piece to PACIFICO is TRANSCENDING WAVES a stunning documentary produced by the Azulay Brothers, Julian and Joaquin from Argentina. TRANSCENDING WAVES follows the brothers as they travel to the Falkland Islands deep in the South Atlantic Ocean in search of waves. Their trip is unique as they travel by foot, van, plane and boat to catch a few waves amongst the 700 islands and better understand the geopolitics of the region.
The 2020 BELLS BEACH SURF FILM FESTIVAL.. featuring something for everyone and with the event celebrating its 10th birthday there will be quite a few surprises in store including some of the most incredible surf films you will ever see.
Go to www.bellsbeachsurffilmfestival.com for program and ticketing details.
Written by John Foss
