There’s no better example of the grass roots power of a local surf community than the Florida Surf FIlm Festival, now in its second decade as one of the world’s best places for surf filmmakers to show their work to an engaged, raucous, multigenerational audience.
The first near decade, the FSFF took place in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, set in one of the most gorgeous natural amphitheaters you could imagine getting to watch or show a surf film, with little artist studios set back in the wild Florida brush for surfers and filmmakers in town for the festival.
In 2024, FSFF partnered with Daytona State College, moving its main event to the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach. This collaboration allowed the festival to accommodate a larger audience and offered students opportunities to engage with the film industry.
The festival’s programming includes feature films, short films, and workshops in filmmaking, photography, and journalism, often led by notable figures in the surf industry. Awards are presented in categories such as Best Documentary, Best Surf Movie, Best Cinematography, and Best Soundtrack, with selections made by a jury of industry experts. Throughout its history, FSFF has attracted significant attention, including sold-out screenings and appearances by prominent figures like Kelly Slater. The festival’s commitment to programming diverse projects and its role in preserving surf culture through film have solidified its reputation as a premier surf film festival on the East Coast.
Next weekend, June 14th and 15th, Kevin Miller and John Brooks have curated a diverse lineup of short and longform films, from pop cultural documentaries, philosophical meanderings, freesurf edits, and curated conversations with filmmakers and writers. Details below
Dates: June 13 & 14, 2025
Venue: News-Journal Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Doors Open: 5:00 PM
Films Start: 6:00 PM sharp
Presented by: Monster Energy & Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation
In Partnership with: Daytona State College
Tickets and Passes: Available now here or at www.floridasurffilmfestival.com
Green Room Memberships (12-month rolling membership) include:
· Custom FSFF YETI tumbler
· Official 2025 FSFF t-shirt
· Meal ticket + two drink tickets per event
· Event posters and more!
Friday Night – June 13:
Opening Block: Arctic Journal by Paco Elissalde (27 min.) An epic 25,000-kilometer journey from the Arctic Circle to the Scottish Isles in search of lost waves and endangered cultures.
Feature Film: Tingleby Cian Salmon (39 min.) A deep dive into the mind and wave-riding philosophy of big-wave charger Zac Haynes.
Second Block: Bad Things Come in Three by Finlay Woods & Harrison Roach (12 min.) A stylish and honest take on surfing misadventures.
Friday Night Feature: Shaping the Future by Robert Helphand and Tony Gentile (67 min.) A tribute to shaper Lance Collins and the iconic legacy of Wave Tools surfboards.
Saturday Night – June 14:
Opening Block:• Lucumaby Luke Pilbeam (26 min.) A visual journey through the vast, wave-rich coastlines of southern Chile.
Feature Film:• Last Known Coordinates by Joe Piscatella (55 min.) Featuring Chris Bertish’s mind-blowing solo Atlantic crossing on a stand-up paddleboard—Bertish will be in attendance!
Second Block:• Blue Veil by Jimmy Wilson and Sean Benik (12 min.) A video adventure deep into the Caribbean starring Michael Dunphy, who’ll be in attendance.
Closing Feature – U.S. Premiere: (Unannounced Screening) by Sam George Originally screened at Cannes 2010, never released. This gem explores the awkward portrayal of surfing in Hollywood, from Gidget to Big Wednesday and beyond.Features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, John Milius, Stacy Peralta, Gary Busey, and more.
Includes Q&A with Sam George, who will also promote his upcoming memoir, .
Special Guest:
Dan Reiter, author of On a Rising Swell and contributor to The Surfer’s Journal, will be on site with his latest work. Both Dan and Sam George have been featured on our Surf Stories Podcast—tune in wherever you get your pods!
Related: Safi: The World’s Best Wave That Was Kept Secret For Decades