BEST OF THE FEST – A VERY SPECIAL EVENING

LS/FF Presents: Best of the Fest – a very special evening of the very best in surf cinema & stand out stories from across the globe.

“When we host the festival in London, it’s really special – we have people come to join us from all around the world. And when we bring the festival home to Cornwall it’s incredibly special to see so many familiar faces,  it feels like having your friends round for a surf movie night.” Festival co-founder Chris Nelson on bringing LS/FF Best of the Fest to a sold out, packed out and stoked out crowd at Newquay’s Lighhouse Cinema on St Piran’s Day!

Bringing to the big screen the Cornish premiere of 5 handpicked award winners from 14th Edition LS/FF it was an epic night of community coming together to celebrate the cream of surf filmmaking from across the world – the things that unite us and the very best of surf culture. Huge thanks to everyone who turned out and especially to the filmmakers and surfers who bring to life the stories of our culture. We were joined by Penwith poet Mike Lay and filmmker Seth Hughes who shared tales of  Gwynnik – winner Best Cinematography as well as Gabriella Zagni who presented her Shortie of the Year – No Place Like Home and talked about her journey in filmmaking

t was an absolute pleasure and a privilege to share the stage with our good friend, the legend Mr Chris Hines MBE who cofounded  SAS and has been instrumental in campaigning to clean up our ocean – changing the way we think about our waterways and activism. He spoke about Channel 4’s must-see ‘Dirty Business’ bringing the sewage scandal -which we as surfers are all too familiar with – to the mainstream. Thanks to all our friends & partners who help us celebrate the creativity that exists in surfing including Finisterre, YETI, Carve, Surfgirl, Surfline, Looking Sideways and Sharp’s Brewery who keep the good vibes flowing!

Films that make you feel are what LS/FF is all about! Image: Adj Brown x LS/FF

BEST OF THE FEST – THE LINE UP

BEST FILM – Kingdom of the Evening //  Dir. Clint Davis
BEST DOCUMENTARY & VIEWER’S CHOICE – Antarctica – Domain One // Dir. Gauchos del Mar
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – Gwynnik // Dir. Seth Hughes
WOMEN OF THE SEA – Surf , Eat, Repeat // Dir. Karen Song
SHORTIE OF THE YEAR – No Place Like Home // Dir: Gabriella Zagni

Surf adventurer Kepa Acero travels back in time to meet an old friend & surf mythical waves. But is the dream of the perfect trip a reality? A joyous journey along dusty points.

BEST FILM // Kingdom of the Evening Dir. Clint Davis

Featuring one of our favourite surf adventurers Kepa Acero this film is a glorious reminder of just what our salty pursuit is all about. The waves of course, but also the journey, the people, the connections, the finding of a common language to recount the tales of the days’ adventures long into the night…

This ode to adventure follows the perennially stylish Kepa and Snoopy (that’s him in our cover photo as well as above) as they embark on a journey through Morocco to find what once was—empty line-ups, pure stoke, and that elusive feeling of freedom. But things don’t go as planned Does the dream they’re chasing still exist? This joyous and true tale of rediscovery will make you fall in love with surfing over and over again

Gauchos del Mar in search of unridden realms on the frozen continent, narrated by Kelly Slater. 

BEST DOCUMENTARY & VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD // Antarctica – Domain One Dir. Julian and Joaquin Azulay

From multi award-winning filmmakers & renowned adventurers Gauchos del Mar and narrated by Kelly Slater – this much anticipated documentary sees the brothers set sail on their most challenging surf expedition yet. Charting the under-threat, under explored Antarctic waters in search of unridden waves and vital research into the melting glaciers and wildlife below the surface, this beautiful, eye opening exploration of our impact on the wildest reaches of the natural world is a call to action. The filmmakers spoke with  our friends at Carve about the project >> HERE

Surf, Eat, Repeat – a mantra and a journey through NY surf culture via shared meals, shared stories & cold waves. At a time when even the line up can feel divided, this timely tale from Karen Song celebrates the rich diversity in surfing.

WOMEN OF THE SEA AWARD // Surf , Eat, Repeat Dir. Karen Song

An intimate insight in New York surf culture through the notion of shared meals, shared stories and cold waves.  “The film explores diversity as it relates to surfing, especially in my beloved NY surf community,” explains Brooklyn local and award winning filmmaker Karen Song. “It’s a reflection of the incredible women who are out there charging every day and our connection to nature even in this concrete jungle” Surf, Eat, Repeat sound like words to live by. Filmmaker Karen Song spoke with Surfgirl about the film >>  HERE

Rooted in the Celtic landscape featuring Penwith poet, lifeguard & internationally renowned surfer Mike Lay, Gwynnik Dir. Seth Hughes is a journey home. Image: Luke Gartside

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY // Gwynnik Dir. Seth Hughes

There’s a certain alchemy to the films created by award winning filmmaker Seth Hughes and internationally renowned Penwith surfer, lifeguard and poet Mike Lay that go beyond the cinematic. Their latest film Gwynnik, “little fair one” in Cornish is their 3rd in collaboration. Rooted in the Celtic landscape, this film is an evolution – an appreciation that the chase for surfing fulfilment may ultimately lead back to the narrow roads and cliff paths of home. “Filmed over two years across Cornwall and Brittany, it’s a visual record of Mike’s evolving relationship with the ocean,” says Seth. “A gentle reminder that beauty exists in all conditions, that joy and meaning can be found in the everyday rhythm of the sea.” Seth spoke with  Wavelength about the film >>  HERE

SHORTIE OF THE YEAR // No Place Like Home Dir: Gabriella Zagni

Surfing in Scotland is cold. It’s a given. It takes grit, determination and next level motivation. But once you’ve tucked into those world-class waves, tuned into the extremes and have an epic crew backing you up, there’s no place quite like it. Celebrating and elevating homegrown talents,  Phoebe Strachan, Mark Boyd and Malcolm Anderson, in their element at Thurso East.

Boydie and Phoebe Strachan. Celtic fringe dwellers on the big screen at LS/FF in Shortie of the Year No Place Like Home Dir. Gabriella Zagni