Noosa International Surf Film Festival set to celebrate surf culture through film, music and art

Noosa International Surf Film Festival set to celebrate surf culture through film, music and art Noosa Junction will become a surf culture hub from 8th to 11th August, with the Noosa International Surf Film Festival set to include screenings from film-makers around the world, Q and A sessions and thought-provoking forums.

Described by Festival founder Jesca Maas as “a celebration of surf culture through film, music and art, over three days and nights”, the event will include screenings at Noosa Event Cinemas, a festival club at the New York Minute Burger Bar and the forums hosted at Noosa Surf Museum.

The Noosa International Surfilm Festival is a competition for short and feature, and submission criteria being that “all films must have an inspiring story, be that humanitarian, environmental, health and wellbeing, spiritual or travel based”.

Awards will be offered for best feature, best short (maximum 30 minutes) and best cinematography.

Submission period has just closed, and the quality of the films is high.

The festival is excited about the distinguished judging panel, including journalist and author Tim Baker, film-makers Jon Frank, Mick Sowry, Nathan Oldfield, Lauren Hill, Spencer Frost and local new talent Hunter Vercoe as well as local surfing identities Kirra Molnar, Peppie Simpson and Councillor Tom Wegener.

An accomplished event manager with a postgraduate certificate in arts and entertainment management, Maas has a rich portfolio of successful events, including the IronmanWA Carnival, CinefestOZ - an acclaimed Australian film festival, and the creation of the Yallingup Surfilm Festival, which broke new ground when it ran in Western Australia in 2010 and 2012, with attendees from all over the country and the world, as well as from the surf-mad local Margaret River region.

Since moving to Noosa, Maas says she has found inspiration in the region's natural beauty, a driving force behind her decision to settle in the area.

She adds “the Noosa International Surfilm Festival will be a dedicated gathering for surfers and enthusiasts of surf culture and the ocean.

“Our aim is to celebrate and explore the rich surf culture that has been an integral part of the Noosa region for many years, bringing together Australian and international surf film-makers and artists to showcase their work, providing a platform for diverse influences on surf culture from around the world. In addition to celebrating surf culture and the arts, our festival is committed to raising awareness of environmental and social issues in meaningful ways.”

For information, Early Bird Tickets and merchandise go to www.noosaisff.com.au

Images: The Noosa International Surf Film Festival will run from 8th to 11th August (top), patrons at Noosa Event Cinemas (middle) and organiser Jesca Maas (below). Credit: Noosa International Surf Film Festival.