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A drive-in car park film festival celebrating Jersey's unique surf culture, community, and natural environment is returning for a seventh year this weekend. Express dives into what to expect...
The Jersey Surf Film Festival showcases a variety of local and internationally-produced films that explore ocean culture, screened at the Watersplash Jersey's drive-in car park cinema.
Pictured: Jersey Surfboard Club, one of the oldest and longest-standing surf clubs in Europe, which was formed in 1959.
The festival aims to preserve and celebrate Jersey's rich surfing heritage.
The island's surfing history stretches back to the 1920s with the founding of arguably Europe's first surf club, The Island Surf School of Jersey.
Jersey thrived as a prominent European surfing hub in the 1960s and 1970s, hosting prestigious events such as the European Surfing Championships. The island's reputation for surfboard shaping also blossomed during this era.
St. Ouen's Bay, where it all began, remains the heart of the vibrant surf culture on the island.
Pictured: UK big-wave surfer, Taz Knight, featured in the documentary film "Savage Waters".
The Jersey Surf Film Festival aims to promote sustainability and has offset its own carbon footprint by partnering with Sea Trees.
The organisation aims to combat climate change and preserve marine ecosystems through the creation of "blue carbon" forests, which capture and store carbon dioxide in natural sinks.
The festival has also collaborated with local charitable organisations like Ocean Culture Life, which promotes ocean conservation and culture, and Healing Waves, which uses ocean therapy to help islanders with disabilities and struggles with their mental health.
Events kick off on Saturday evening at 19:00, with the premiere of the short film competition winner, 'Standing on Water'. This will followed by a showing of locally-produced film, 'Point of Change', with a DJ set following later on.
Sunday begins with a morning beach clean and breakfast. In the early afternoon, an array of short films celebrating oceanic culture will be presented.
'Point of Change' is a thought-provoking documentary directed by local filmmaker Rebecca Coley, with contributions from local filmmakers and artists.
The film tells the story of the 'perfect wave' discovered on Nias Island, Indonesia, in the 1970s, and illustrates how this discovery set off a chain reaction with unforeseen and dramatic consequences.
The film features previously unseen Super 8 archive, contemporary interviews and beautiful animation.
This film follows a Devon family who embark on a journey to find and ride a mythical wave in some of the most dangerous waters of the Atlantic, inspired by a passage in a 19th-century treasure hunter's journal
The documentary is directed by Mikey Corker and narrated by Charles Dance, featuring renowned skipper Matt Knight, world-class big wave surfer Andrew Cotton, plus family and friends.
This short film follows Australian surfer and activist Lucy Small as she travels to Ghana to meet with a group of pioneering female surfers and skaters.
Through its narrative, this film aims to challenge the stereotypes surrounding some African nations.
'Yama' starts its exploration in the vibrant city of Accra and then ventures along the wave-rich coastline, where female surf communities play a leading role in shaping the emerging modern surf culture in Ghana.
This film narrates the journey of Casper Steinfath from Denmark, who became one of the world's top Stand Up Paddle (SUP) surfers.
Set amidst the stunning landscapes of California, the film delves into Casper's life, marked by a unique form of dwarfism, and his profound dedication to surfing.
Tommy Corey directed, edited, shot, and finished the piece.
The short documentary 'To Be Frank' delves into the concepts of authenticity and community within surf culture, directed by Anna Burns.
It sheds light on the life of Frank Paine, showcasing his enduring bond with surfing, his vibrant and enthusiastic personality, and the tight-knit surfing community he has cultivated within the surf scene of Hermosa Beach in Los Angeles.
Purchasing a ticket includes the chance to win a 'Madhatter Skate and Surf Shop' giveaway. To book your Saturday tickets, both for parked cars or outdoor seating, and with the opinion of vegetarian or meat burgers click here. To book your Sunday tickets, click here. To find out more about the Jersey Surf Film Festival and their event updates, click here.
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