Ride wild surf movies at San Diego Surf Film Fest 4

It appears as if the San Diego Surf Film Festival has hit a happy reef. The annual event has become so popular that, after three years of calling Bird’s Surf Shed their home base, SDFF has made the move to larger digs. SDSFF4 will be held in La Jolla, May 20–23, at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Sherwood Auditorium.

“Our majestic blue marble is made up of 71 percent water, which lends itself to an abundance of surf-related films and stunning cinematography,” writes Pierce Kavanagh, the festival’s co-creator and director. “We are stoked to showcase surf films from around the planet, from popular surf destinations such as Hawaii, California, France, Australia and the Maldives, to Rio de Janeiro, the south of Portugal, and even a small village of El Salvador.”

As for the new accommodations, Kavanagh calls the 500-seat theater with the ocean at its back door “the perfect venue. The response has already been overwhelming.”

This year’s lineup of films includes eight features and twice as many shorts. The event is steeped in surf culture, so expect the surrounding music, art, and food to reflect more of the same. There promises to be a VIP party at Green Flash Brewing Co. with dozens of filmmakers and producers in attendance. Many of the screenings will be followed by in-depth Q&As with filmmaker panels. Special events include a tribute to late surf cinematographer Sonny Miller and a presentation by well-known surf and nature photographer Chris Burkard.

For more information and a complete schedule of films and afterparties, visit sandiegosurffilmfestival.com.