Editor

The 3rd annual Canadian Surf Film Festival (CSFF) launches its 2012 program, full with regular length features and shorts about surfing, its communities, its environments and the soci-political issues that define it. As in year’s past, the event runs in Halifax over four-days– September 27-30–bringing international film festival darlings and local indie shorts together for the viewing pleasure of surfers, non-surfers and film lovers alike.
 
“It’s lining up to be another great one for the Festival. We’re excited about our third year: the premieres, the parties and the new partnerships,” says Development Director, Keith Maddison. “We’ve got strong local content in our program, with a special focus on Canadian premieres. It’s always fun to have a program that tackles everything from shark myths in South Africa, to stories of surfing Japan’s coastlines after the 2009 disaster, to some retro “surf-porn” shot by local filmmakers.”
 
The Festival kicks off with the documentary Surfing and Sharks on Thursday, September 27. Filmed in South Africa, it tracks pro surfers in some of the world’s most shark-infested waters–uncovering secrets surrounding the highly stigmatized species. Also during the CSFF, the Canadian premiere of El Mar, Mi Alma–an award-winning film shot entirely on 16mm–stars pro surfer and famed environmentalist Dave Rastovich in a visual love song to the surf-blessed land of Chile. Here and Now is a community surf film project featuring more than 25 filmmakers and surfers on their respective 24-hour adventures on May 2, 2012. From world champs like Kelly Slater and Stephanie Gilmore to free spirits like Rastovich, Ozzy Wright and Canadian pro Pete Devries, this project runs the gamut of surf experiences on a single day. The Canadian premiere North of the Sun takes things beyond the most intense Canadian winter surfing experiences with two Norwegian surfers, Inge Wegge and Jørn Ranum, as they make a go at nine months in an isolated bay in northern Norway. We Are All Radioactive explores surfing and the environment in Japan after the disastrous 2009 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear explosion. The Canadian premiere of A Deeper Shade of Blue follows the iconic surf filmmaker Jack McCoy as he ventures into a new realm, exploring surfing’s deepest roots–the subconscious, the ancient lore, the craft of shaping, and man’s perpetual quest for a joyful relationship with the natural world. Finally, as part of the Shorts Program on September 28, Up Cycling, Much Better Now and Souls in the Water screen. For further program details and trailers, visit http://csff.ca/full-2012-csff-schedule-welcome .
 
For the third year running, CSFF brings back the Short Film Challenge–a Canada-wide short film competition that encourages both experienced and inexperienced filmmakers to create and produce short films (10 minutes or less). All submissions are considered for the Grand Prize and a World Premiere for a shortlist screens Friday, September 28. The Grand Prize is a Stamps Surfboard longboard and screening spots at both the London Surf Film Festival and SMASH NYC’s US Tour. Local musician and surfer Matt Mays won last year’s Short Film Challenge with his short Surfer’s Road.
 
The CSFF Jury, comprised of surf and film aficionados from here and away, choose the best film of the Festival, as well as the winner of the Short Film Challenge. Among the jurors, Andrew Murphy, Programming Manager at the Atlantic Film Festival; Cyrus Sutton, founder at Korduroy TV, Emmy Award winner and surfer hailing from California; Lesley Choyce, poet, novelist and surf legend from Lawrencetown Beach; Justin Huston, local surfer and President of the Surf Association of Nova Scotia; and Caralee Murphy, co-founder of One Life Surf. For more on the jurors, visit www.csff.ca/2012-csff-jury .
 
The CSFF is excited to host several special events during the Festival. Among them, the Patagonia Festival Launch Party at The Patagonia Shop (1496 Lower Water Street) on Thursday, September 27 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.. The Opening Night Post Party follows at The Seahorse Tavern (1665 Argyle Street) with the Mellotones on Thursday, September 27 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.. On Friday, September 28 Garrison Brewery (1149 Marginal Road) hosts a special CSFF tour from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.. Also on Friday, the 15th Annual Surf Art Show at the Laughleton Gallery (115 Shore Road, West Chezzetcook) opens for a public exhibit from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with work from over 40 artists, celebrating surf and art culture in Nova Scotia. On Saturday, September 29, If Only Surf Shop (1300 Queen Street) and Spy Optic host an early party from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.. A Surfin’ Rockabilly Riot follows that evening at The Seahorse Tavern from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.. Moksha Yoga (1512 Dresden Row) invites the public for free surfer’s yoga, September 30 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.. And the CSFF closes the Festival Sunday evening with the Awards Show at The Seahorse Tavern from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m..
 
All screenings are at Empire Theatres in the Park Lane Mall (5657 Spring Garden Road). Tickets for screenings and special events go on sale Monday, September 24 at the Canadian Surf Film Festival Box Office in the Park Lane Mall, on Ticketpro.ca and at If Only Surf Shop. Screening tickets are $10 or $75 for an All-Access Pass. All prices exclude HST and Service Fees. For hours of operation, visit: www.csff.ca .
 
The CSFF shares up-to-date news and announces ticket and other prize giveaways daily on Twitter @canadasurffilm and on Facebook www.facebook.com/canadiansurffilmfestival .