Screenshot from Endless Ocean.
They say journalism is the first draft of history. As a documentary filmmaker with a journalism background, I like to find stories that hold up to this mission. Surf films are no exception. I felt fortunate to document the first Big Wave World Tour and the historic El Nino season of 2009-2010 in my last surf film, “Chasing the Swell” for this reason. When my friend, big wave surfer, João De Macedo told me about the expedition he was planning to find new waves in the Azores last winter, I was intrigued. However, when he told me that one of the team members was also the grandson of the first surfer in the Azores, I knew I had found my next film. The story’s focus would be the first family of Azorean surfers, and the big wave expedition that comes to their small island of San Miguel.
I am thrilled to be in Portugal now to watch the premiere of my short film, “Endless Ocean” aka “Mar Sem Fim” at the Surf at Lisbon Film Festival this Saturday, Nov 1st with the local Portuguese crew in attendance. While in Ericeira, I have been able to surf one of the first World Surfing Reserves (a Save the Waves program that proactively identifies, designates and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones, and their surrounding environments globally) in near-perfect conditions. Thanks to the work of locals and this Save the Waves program, I have witnessed the beauty of this wave sanctuary without the visual pollution of development on the cliffs and physical pollution of waste and runoff.
It is therefore fitting that the North American premiere of the film will be at the Save the Waves Film Festival the following weeks in San Diego Nov 7th, Brooklyn Nov 14th and San Francisco Nov 21st. The seed of the Azores adventure was actually planted at a wave-saving protest. De Macedo met the star of the film, Diogo Medeiros, at a demonstration on San Miguel Island over a wave threatened by the development of a marina at Rabo de Peixe. Unfortunately, that wave is now changed forever; however, the passion to create awareness around the value of the break brought De Macedo and Medeiros together, and the conversation of the countless other waves yet to be discovered in the Azores began.
Save the Waves has been immensely supportive of my documentary films. This is the fourth film I have screened at their festivals and the “Most Awesomest Filmmaker” award that they gave me a few years back remains the best named accolade on my resume. However, it is the continued commitment of the festival’s founder, Josh Berry, to showcase narrative surf films that excites me most and keeps me coming back each year. I am proud to be a part of such a unique and fun gathering of our community around stories about our ocean environment.
I hope that you will join us this year to celebrate these films and filmmakers. All proceeds benefit the work by Save the Waves to protect our coastal environment and ensure that families like the Medieros family in the Azores will have adventures for many generations to come.
Here is a link to a trailer of the 23-minute film that will be featured in the festival. I look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!
The Save The Waves Film Festival will be in San Diego at Bird’s Surf Shed on 11/7, Brooklyn at Lightspace Studios on 11/14, and San Francisco at the Victoria Theater on 11/21. These events are proudly presented by Pacifico Beer, Patagonia, Clif Bar, and The Inertia, with support from Tito’s Vodka, Suerte Tequila, Zola Coconut Water, Ocean’s Halo, Firewire Surfboards, Sanuk, Bull Taco, Sunski Sunglasses, Escape Campervans and Sagebrush Boardbags.
Reserve your tickets today at www.savethewaves.org/filmfestival
