Session 1: 3:00 PM / Session 2: 8:00 PM
(see full schedule below)

Do you love the Ocean, surfing, adventure, and travel? Then come join us and experience some of the best independent, international surf films from some of the most talented surf filmmakers out there today, and learn what makes the pull of the ocean so strong for so many people. Closing the festival will be the Maine premiere of the brand new film 180° SOUTH! (see full description below). There will be prizes, giveaways, a mid-festival reception, a visit from Maine’s own Grain Surf Boards (in their vintage panel truck!), and more!

FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:(See Descriptions Below)

SESSION I: 3:00 PM
DEAR AND YONDER- 55 Minutes
ISHMAEL- 55 Minutes
LITTLE BLACK WHEELS- 54 Minutes

6:30-8:00PM- BREAK AND SURF ART OPENING at IN BETWEEN GALLERY- Come Join Us!(see description below)

SESSION II: 8 PM
POWERS OF THREE- 34 Minutes
180° SOUTH (PREMIERE!)- 1 Hour, 24 Minutes

SURF ART SHOW! Join us at the In Between Gallery for a Surf Art Show and opening presented by Corduroy Boutique & Gallery. Corduroy, located in Portland, will be installing a one-day only gallery collection there, showcasing surf art from artists around the country. The opening will be held from 6:30-8:00pm. The exhibit, which will be a mix of photography, prints, paint, and mixed media, will also be open for public viewing all that day. Artiststs represented include; Jamie Watson, Ty Williams, Seamouse, Ryan Tatar, Nick Lavecchia, Luke Taffee, Tammi Snodgrass, John Culqui, and Dan Tedeschi. The In Between Gallery is located across the street from the Strand Theatre, between the Second Read Coffee Shop and The Black Parrot.

WIN A SURF BOARD! Enter to win an “Alaia” surfboard by Jon Wegener. The Alaia (a - lay - a) is a traditional handcrafted wooden finless surfboard that was used by the ancient Hawaiian’s. Wegener Surfboards now replicates and produce’s the Alaia in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the popularity of these unique boards is growing fast. This will be a rare opportunity to win one of these unique surfboards.

Also on screen during the festival will be the award winning photography of Professional Surf Photographer Nick Lavecchia

FILM DESCRIPTIONS:

DEAR AND YONDER
Daring Stories of Ladies United By The Sea
USA/2009/55 Minutes
View the trailer »
Dear and Yonder, an ode to women's surfing created by Tiffany Campbell and Andria Lessler, features a dynamic cast of ladies, some of whom are bathed in the limelight while others have only existed in quite pockets until now. Each of their stories is unique, but a spirit of adventure and love they have for the ocean connects them. The film tracks the unbridled progression of top professionals Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Coco Ho, Silvana Lima and Sofia Mulanovich, as they immerse themselves in Indonesia’s green caves and aqua faces, and introduces us to many other up-and- coming and lesser known female surfer’s and water-women. The film also journey’s back in time to uncover the rich history of women’s surfing with icons Linda Benson, Rell Sun, and Lisa Anderson. An intimate documentary that explores the spiritual side of surfing and the rich history of women's contributions to the sport. Dear and Yonder’s primary cinematographer is veteran filmmaker, Thomas Campbell.

ISHMAEL
Ben Keller
USA/2003/54 Minutes
What possess a person to seek solace in the sea, when snow is waist-high, sleet pelts the brow, the sea is a frigid 34 degrees, and the wind chill 10 below? Like Melville’s Ishmael, New England surfers suffer the buffeting of the North Atlantic, because it's in their blood. As New Englanders, they are bred to the sea. 10 Avid surfers from Maine and northern New England talk about the sensations, and the need to explore New England's wintry sea-scapes, accompanied by some of the hardiest surfing in America. This isn't your average surf flick. New England might as well be Siberia in the minds of the majority of the surfing populous. But there is a small, dedicated and ever growing core group of people that patiently wait for the waves, no matter the season. Ishmael captures the essence of the maritime vibe of New England through these 10 individuals, and explores their ties to this particular trackless piece of ocean.
Filmed in one of the coldest winters in decades, the images of watermen and women trudging through the snow are accompanied by an eerily Melville-ian soundtrack, creating a truly Northeastern atmosphere for the film. (Yes, there are fishermen who surf!)

LITTLE BLACK WHEELS
2010/Australia/56 Minutes
View the trailer »
Following on the heels of his cult-favorite film Believe, Little Black Wheels is the latest film from surfer and filmmaker Mick Waters, which documents his family’s five-month surf road trip around Australia. Traveling with a two year old, his pregnant wife, a dog and a campervan, life is stripped back to its basics. Eat, surf and sleep. When there are no waves, you relax or explore, spend time with the family or move onto the next location. No boat charters, internet swell predictions, or expensive budgets where used in the making of this film, just a car, some boards, a plan, some luck and a whole lot of love for surfing, family, and filmmaking. A beautiful film by an independent filmmaker who truly loves what he does. Starring Dave Rastovich (Rasta), Dain Thomas, Mick Hughes, Johnny Abegg, Antoine Cardonnet, Beau Young, Jimmy McMillan, Brett Schwartz, Ry Craike, Mark Healey, Dave Macaulay and Family, Kristian Spencer, Danny Wills and a host of other underground surfers. This film also feature’s Surf Boards from Maine’s own GRAIN Surfboards!! (www.grainsurfboards.com)

POWERS OF THREE
Relentless Energy
2009/Ireland/34 Minutes
View the trailer »
For most of us, when we think of big waves we see in our minds' eye the glorious breaks of California, South Western Australia, Hawaii or Tahiti. However, there exists a small circle of people for who big and heavy conjures images of an altogether different place: the west coast of Ireland. The Irish coastline provides an unpredictable selection of waves with the scale, power and weight that can comfortably compete with what the rest of the world has to offer. Powers of Three portrays the burgeoning big-wave Irish surf scene, following three remarkable surfers as they pioneer and conquer Irish waves through the bleak winter months. Fergal Smith, Tom Lowe and Mickey Smith are more than just athletes, they are Artists driven by obsession, and prepared to suffer and sacrifice in pursuit of their art. While they can surf almost anywhere, they have made it their purpose to push ahead, choosing instead to surf in this magnificent (and potentially deadly) location, never choosing the easy route. This stunningly beautiful film, filled with rich images of Ireland and its rugged coastline, and will leave you feeling the powerful shudder of 20ft slabs exploding on the cliffs underneath your feet.

180° SOUTH
MAINE PREMIERE & CLOSING NIGHT FILM!
2010/USA/Directed by Chris Malloy
1 hour, 24 minutes
View the trailer »
This gorgeous, historic, and inspiring new film from director & surfer Chris Malloy and his collective at Woodshed Films, documents the adventures of surfer and climber Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard (rock climbing legend and founder of Ventura-based Patagonia) and Doug Tompkins, on which they drove, mountain climbed and surfed their way to Chilean Patagonia. Along the way, Jeff encounters big surf, snowy mountains, a dangerous ocean crossing, pulp mills, cowboys, dams and more on his way to climb Cerro Corcovado in Patagonia. Jeff's life takes a turn when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature and have come to Patagonia to help use their influence to help protect it. The film is a road trip movie, a historic document, and an environmental call to arms, but mostly a meditation on what matters most in life – staying true to one's own vision and values. With a Stellar soundtrack, and epic cinematography, this film is a must see, and a Maine premiere! (Also playing daily through April 29th)

ADVANCED TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! NOTE: ONLY FULL FESTIVAL PASSES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE (see link below). SESSION TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE STRAND WALK UP BOX OFFICE WINDOW ONLY

TICKET PRICES:
SESSION I: $8.50 Adults / $6.50 under 18
SESSION II: $8.50 / $6.50 under 18
FULL FESTIVAL PASS: $14 / $10

For More info, call: 594-0070
Individual Session Tickets Only Available in Person at The Box Office Daily 6:00pm-8:00pm
Full Festival Pass Available On-line. Call (594-0070) for Student Rate on Full Festival Pass