For the three nights of the 2016 Approaching Lines International Festival of Surf x Reef, Newquay shone brightly as a beacon of stoke gathering together surf communities from across the southwest for a celebration of the cream of international surf culture.
The Festival opening party hosted at Gilmore’s Mexican Cantina went off and what started out as the AL XXL Big Brain Surf Quiz Challenge ended up as a big night attended by a who’s who of British surfing, raising £200 for The Wave Project Charity.
After a nail biting tie break situation Team Pendeen made up of Mike Lay, Jack Whitefield, Matt Travis and Luke Pilbeam took down local favourites John Isaac, Darren Cooledge, Jamie Humphries and Archie ‘Vintage Grom’ Cross, taking bragging rights home to West Penwith. #ALFEST2016xREEF brought to Newquay’s state of the art WTW cinema two nights of the very best surf films from across the globe which included a World Premiere, a European Premiere and a host of award winning features. “ We were delighted to be able to host such an incredible line up of talent here in the Southwest and pack the cinema to the rafters with stoke,” says Approaching Lines co-founder Chris Nelson. “It’s also great to be able to showcase the work of so many talented homegrown filmmakers, including the likes of Jimmy Pinfield, Ben Skinner, Anthony Butler, Chris Case and the multi award winning 2 Eyes Films on the big screen.
After two nights, 10 films, a plethora of stoke balls and hundreds of Sharp’s ales, the winners are:
REEF Best Film: Dirty Old Wedge Dir. Tim Burnham
SHARP’S Best Documentary: Fish The Documentary Dir. Joseph Ryan
XCEL Viewers Choice: Fish The Documentary Dir. Joseph Ryan
CARVE Best British Film: Freezing
APPROACHING LINES Froth Factor: Dirty Old Wedge Dir. Tim Burnham
MSW Best Short Film: My Canvas Dir. Anthony Butler / Mr. B Productions
Many thanks to the hard charging UK Surf Community for turning out and bringing the stoke, as well as friends at REEF, Sharp’s Brewery, Xcel Wetsuits, Gilmore’s, Clean Cornwall, Carve, Surf Girl, MagicSeaweed, Foam Agencies and Alasdair Lindsay for his display of vintage UK twin fins. See you next year!
May 12 – 15 2016, 3rd Annual Approaching Lines International Festival of Surf presented by REEF comes to Cornwall. Bringing the very best international and homegrown surf films to the big screen, from European Premieres to multi award-winning features, the Approaching Lines International x Reef celebrates filmmaking on a global scale.
“We’ve worked with the very best filmmaking talent across the globe to curate a line up of the year’s most inspiring and exciting movies, bringing two night of stunning cinematography, cutting edge performance and inspiring documentaries to the Southwest,” says Festival Director Chris Nelson. “Hosted at the state of the art Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay, this year’s programme takes you on a waveriding journey that will stoke the fires for the season ahead. For many of the films this will be the only chance to see them on the big screen in the southwest, watched as they were intended to be seen, surrounded by an enthusiastic and amped crew.”
Accompanied by the inaugural Approaching Lines charity surf quiz night hosted at Gilmore’s on 12th May plus the UK’s most exciting alt wave riding contest, The Slyder Cup hosted at the Lusty Glaze shred wedge, 15th May, The Approaching Lines International presented by REEF is a celebration of the cream of contemporary surf culture. www.approachinglines.com
Watching surf films on the big screen with like-minded souls is a wonderful thing. Add in to the mix talks from legendary surfers, photographers and film makers with a big dose of Irish hospitality and you’ve got a recipe for a good weekend.
The short Irish edits part of the weekend is ridiculously boisterous and fun, especially as it morphs into the awards and getting lost in the pubs. Suffice to say we had a blast at the event last year. Sadly can’t make it this year due to mag deadlines but if you can make it … do. You won’t regret it.
The Point Break reboot hits cinemas here in the UK in February… We’ll let you know thoughts then, until then the surfing teaser featurette is pretty tidy.
The 5th annual London Surf / Film Festival presented by Reef went down in a blaze of stoke. Hosted across the capital, across two weekends the festival brought to the UK the very best surf films from across the globe for a celebration of the cream of international surf culture. Bringing together waveriders from all four corners of the UK, the festival really has become a must attend for anyone with even a passing interest in surf culture.
2015 saw packed out screenings at iconic cinematic venues, an intimate gathering at east London’s 71a Gallery, the world’s best sausage sizzle and surf session hosted by Allpress Espresso, a gallery show of works from the UK’s leading artists presented by POW as well as talks from some of the planet’s most inspiring waveriders and filmmakers.
After 6 nights of screenings in the heart of the capital including 3 World Premieres, 3 European Premieres, 7 UK Premieres, 2 XXL winning big wave riders in the house – Chris Bertish and Paige Alms, our favourite adventure traveller Kepa Acero, surf photographer extraordinaire Tim Nunn, a special intro from Ben Weiland, a host of filmmaker Q+A’s, musicians, artisans, writers and the very best in art and culture lubricated by hundreds of pints of Sharp’s award winning ales, the results are in and the winners are:
LS/FF 2015 Panel’s Honourable Mention: Sean Collins – TheRipple Effect Dir. Peter Hamblin. “A unique and quality way of documenting a story of a brilliant pioneer. An informative, fascinating insight into something we all take for-granted and into a man who was clearly very respected. Fast-paced and factual, a very emotive ending. Fresh for the genre.” Lauren Davies
For a taster of what went down on the first weekend:
London Surf / Film Festival presented by Reef kicked off this over the weekend, bringing to the UK a celebration of the cream of international surf culture and the best of British, showcasing the hottest surf films from around the globe – a line up to inspire, enlighten and entertain.
Hosted across two iconic cinematic venues, the film festival continues this weekend at Regents St. Cinema and includes Q&A’s and talks with waveriding’s most inspiring heroes and icons such as XXL Winning female surfer Paige Alms and renowned surf explorer Kepa Acero, workshops, a gallery show, music, art, artisans and more! This saline hit of inspiration is an essential cultural happening.
See the full line up and links to trailers below.
LONDON SURF / FILM FESTIVAL //16-24 OCTOBER 2015 23-24 OCTOBER Regent Street Cinema, W1.
Image: @Chrisburkard // Faroes European Premiere LS/FF Friday 16 October
There are also a limited number of night passes available for Friday at £22 to give you more film for your buck as well as some exclusive goodies. All tickets are available via the Regent Street Cinema box office HERE
Friday 23rd October – REGENT STREET CINEMA, W1
7pm European Premiere: THE WAVE I RIDE Dir. Devyn Bisson Female big wave charger Paige Alms takes on the biggest and most terrifying waves on the planet. This intimate film follows her journey back from a horrific injury, will she be able to charge the giant waves of her home break Jaws again. Presented in person by Paige Alms and Director Devyn Bisson Watch the trailer here:
9pm UK Premiere: THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM Dir. Jon Long This visual spectacular celebrates the sheer joy of the ride and the pure stoke of going big. Featuring pioneers from across the world of surfing, Kelly Slater, Kelia Moniz, Bruce Brown, Chris Burkard, plus skateboard and snowboard legends including Jeremy Jones, Danny Way and Yvon Chouinard, this breath taking big screen feast in not to be missed.
Watch the trailer here:
Saturday 24th October – REGENT STREET CINEMA, W1
5pm European Premiere FISH: THE DOCUMENTARY Dir. Joseph Ryan At a time when logs ruled the line-up, San Diego surfer Steve Lis came up with a design so radical it remained an underground sensation for years. With insightful contributions from the likes of Dave Rastovich, Derek Hynd, Mark Richards, Tom Curren and Rob Machado, plus awesome archive and action footage this beautifully crafted ode to revolutionary board design is a must see.
Watch the trailer here:
7pm UK Premiere: UNCHARTERED WATERS Dir. Craig Griffin Groundbreaking and illuminating documentary tells the story of one of surfing’s most influential and enigmatic figures characters, Australian surf legend Wayne Lynch. Set against the backdrop of disaffected youth, the Vietnam war and the increasing commodification of surfing, this film lifts the curtain on Lynch’s character and motivation, while showing the massive effect he brought to the lifestyle and the influence he has had, and continues to have on our most groundbreaking surfers. Not to be missed.
KEPA ACERO Q&A and SPECIAL SCREENING. Accompanied by KEPA ACERO: Film and Talk Renowned surf explorer Kepa arrives hot off the plane from his latest adventure to share some exclusive new films with us and talk about his solo adventure chasing the monster swell that hit Indonesia and surfing the longest waves in the world in South America.
Watch the trailer here:
9.15pm London Premiere NIX NIC NOOLEY Dir. Toby Creegan The year is 2879 and everyone from the world as we know it in 2015 is dead. Dead. The ocean has dried up and the only way to go surfing is by time travel. Creed McTaggart and Duncan McNicol head back in time to score waves with Ellis Ericson, Thom Pringle, Noa Deane, Jay Davies and Dion Agius. Dials the radness to 11.
Accompanied by UK Premiere THREE STONES FROM THE SUN Dir. Seb Zanella Beautifully crafted documentary allows us to hangout and share waves with the amazing Dave Rastovich, in and around his Byron Bay home.
