Five times British Champion Robyn Davies (l) presents the Crayfish team of Rob Lockyear (3rd l to r), Jeremy Joyce and Richard Pearn with Shortie of the Year for ‘The Shaper’. Image: Simon Plunket
Awards ceremonies and surfing have always been slightly uneasy bedfellows – how do you judge something that is intrinsically a form of self-expression, an artistic endeavor? More so with surf movies. Surely these are completely subjective? What one person loves, another may not.
However, film festivals offer something that is becoming increasingly rare in this digital age. Yes films premiered directly onto the Internet hit a huge audience, but can you ever better the feeling that Inge Wegge experienced as the crowd stood at the end of his film to clap and cheer? Or the way an audience erupts spontaneously into laughter – crying out as one as they did during the premiere of Peter Hamblin’s ‘Wright Side of Wrong’? Or the cheers that went up when ‘The Endless Winter’ was announced as Best British Film or the way Rob Lockyear lifted festival founder Demi Taylor off the ground when ‘The Shaper’ won Shortie of the Year.
As creatives we often beaver away, out of the limelight. Books or films are released, articles are published, often with very little feedback. Festivals are an amazing conduit, a great way for filmmakers to hear just how much a crowd appreciates their work. You can’t beat the buzz generated by an audience enjoying a post screening beer and discussing their favourite scenes.
And the awards are a massive pat on the back from the jury and the audience. It’s a great way for them to say ‘We loved your film!’ and ‘That cinematography was awesome!” And I guess that’s why it’s one of my favourite parts of the event. So after thirteen packed features and over thirty films screened, here are the movies the screening panel plumbed for. Gongs for some, kudos to all.
Best Film, presented by Oakley: HERE + NOW, dir: Nathan Myers, USA
Best Documentary: NORTH OF THE SUN, dir: Inge Wegge & Jørn Nyseth Ranum, NOR
Best Cinematography, presented by XSories: DEAR SUBURBIA, dir. Kai Neville, AUS
The Spirit of the Festival Award: THE AFRICA PROJECT, dir: Jason Hearn, SA
Best British Film, presented by Finisterre: THE ENDLESS WINTER, dir: Matt Crocker and James Dean, UK
Best International Short, presented by magicseaweed: SURF MAGAZINES DON’T TALK ABOUT LAPSED CATHOLICS, Dir: Todd Stewart, USA
Shortie of the Year, presented by National Trust: THE SHAPER, dir: Rob Lockyear, Richard Pearn, Jeremy Joyce, UK
The Viewer’s Choice Award, presented by Oakley, is voted for by the audience over the four days of the festival. This year the overwhelming winner is: NORTH OF THE SUN, dir: Inge Wegge & Jørn Nyseth Ranum, NOR
Thanks to all the filmmakers who entered their films for this year’s event. We were stoked to screen so many amazing films and host so many great filmmaker Q&A’s. Our thanks also go out to the screening panel for being involved, taking the time to view and feedback on this year’s films. It’s a joy to work with such enthusiastic supporters of independent filmmaking.
There are also Honourable Mentions from the jury for the following films:
Film: Sally, dir: Simon Treweek and Nicholas Damon, Aus
Documentary: The Boardroom, dir: Markus Davids, USA
Cinematography: Here + Now, dir: Nathan Myers, USA
British Film: Sink Swim, dir: John Eldridge and Mathilda Fristrom, UK
International Short: Wright Side of Wrong, dir: Peter Hamblin, SA
