Women of the Sea: Film Fund
Women Of The Sea Film Fund presented by Finisterre x London Surf / Film Festival is back. And this time we have doubled the funding with a £10k grant to help you make your next film.
Open exclusively to emerging or established women filmmakers, the fund is about celebrating the stories and fortitude of women of the sea. Open until 31st March, filmmakers are invited to submit their pitch for a film of 10-20 minutes in duration, that explores any aspect of surfing or surf culture that champions women making waves, commandeering space in the line-up.
“Finding, supporting and elevating filmmakers who centre female stories is a critical part of challenging the male-dominated status-quo within the surf industry,” says Bronwen Foster-Butler CMO, Finisterre. “We are thrilled and honoured to be working with LS/FF for the third year running on the Women of the Sea Film Fund to help break down barriers of entry into this type of storytelling.”
The winning submission will receive a £10,000 (or equivalent in $ or CA$) film fund and the final project will be premiered on the big screen as part of the line up at London Surf / Film Festival 2025.
“Since 2011 we’ve been privileged to premiere some 250 films, championing those creatives who bring fresh perspectives and new lines of story telling to surfing and surf culture,” says Festival Director Demi Taylor. “This fund is about changing the narrative in surfing and filmmaking, and we’re delighted to be working with our friends at Finisterre to bring this incredible opportunity for women in filmmaking to life.”
2025 ENTRIES ARE OPEN: HERE
Check out the full T&C’s HERE
Looking for inspiration?
2024 Women of the Sea Film Fund Winner: SALT // Dir. Alice Ward
Our 2024 grant winner Alice Ward blew us away with her pitch for ‘Salt’. This autobiographical exploration of the role that salt and the ocean has played in her life as a filmmaker, surfer and person with Cystic Fibrosis is as power and intimate as it is artistic. “I want to demonstrate to individuals grappling with serious illnesses that their conditions need not always dictate their lives, that they possess capabilities beyond their doctor’s prognoses,” she explains.
“I aim to illustrate the positive impact that immersing myself in the ocean has had on my health. I surf and swim with my camera all year around, embracing the harsh Irish winters and cold water. It has made me tough and resilient, both mentally and physically. The ocean has become one of my most important medicines.” These feel like words to live by. Salt premiered at LS/FF 2024 to much acclaim scooping Best International Short. Read more about her project in her interview with SurfGirl Magazine.
Alice Ward, Winner Women of the Sea Film Fund 2025 Best International Short Film presented by LS/FF Director Demi Taylor Image: Adj Brown x LS/FF
2023 Women of the Sea Film Fund Winner: GRANNY GROMMETS // Dir. Leah Rustomjee
The 2023 winning film was ‘Granny Grommets’ Dir. Leah Rustomjee Leah’s pitch was to produce a ‘…humanising and inspiring portrait of ‘The Granny Grommets’ – a group of women aged 50+ who meet every Friday morning to surf and laugh together.’
The resulting film was so much more, a reminder that there’s no age limit on enjoying the ocean, capturing the hearts and minds of everyone away at LS/FF 2023 to win the highly coveted Viewer’s Choice Award.
Winner 2023 Women of the Sea Film Fund: Granny Grommets Dir. Leah Rustomjee & Creative Producer Coco Jackie at their world premiere LS/FF 2023 where they won the coveted ‘Viewer’s Choice Award // Image: Adj Brown x LS/FF
What does a pitch look like?
We’d like to know a little bit about you, and any previous experience you may have in filmmaking or storytelling.
We’ll want to know about your idea: what and / or who is the film about? How you’re going to tell the story and why this story is important.
If you have any supporting documents – from visual references to full blown pitches – we’d love to see them too. There’s no set format, but please do keep this to below 10 pages.
– 2025 ENTRIES ARE OPENING 8th MARCH –
Granny Grommets Dir. Leah Rustomjee // Winner 2023 Women of the Sea Film Fund and LS/FF 2023 Viewer’s Choice Award
Photographer Abbi Hughes at home in the ocean // Image: ALEXANDER BAXTER x Finisterre