Surfalorus Film Festival returns to the Outer Banks this weekend

More than 15 films will be screened at four different venues on the Outer Banks this weekend, Sept. 19-21, during the 8th Annual Surfalorus Film Festival — a collaboration between Dare County Arts Council and Wilmington-based Cucalorus Festival.

The Opening Night film, “Introducing the Super Stoked Surf Mamas of Pleasure Point” by Elizabeth Pepin Silva will be screened along with a series of family-friendly shorts at Dowdy Park in Nags Head on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Come out to the park at 6:30 p.m. to check out live music by SOULOne, along with local artists selling their creative goods and grab some treats before the films begin at 7:30 p.m. for this free evening of entertainment.

“Super Stoked Surf Mamas is about five women surfers in Santa Cruz, CA, who support each other to stay surfing while they are pregnant,” said filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin Silva. “After they have their children, they band together so that they all can return to the water. My films are documentaries with surfing in them, rather than surf films. In subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways, I talk about universal issues using the lens of surfing as a way to get into topics- such as the challenges of motherhood and the importance of community.”

Head over to Dare County Arts Council in Manteo on Friday, Sept. 20 for an evening of surf craft and eight unique short films, including “Sand to Stone” by Outer Banks native Anthony Leone and Various Trails by Outer Banks native Chris Hannant. The surf craft exhibit will showcase alaias, handplanes, longboards, bodyboards, surf mats and shortboards, and will have a free reception starting at 6:30 p.m. and the films will begin at 7:30 p.m.

“’Sand to Stone’ came about from my years bouncing back and forth from the Outer Banks and Puerto Rico while filming for other projects,” said filmmaker Anthony Leone. “Bodyboarding has always been my passion and I decided it was time to focus my efforts on the sport I loved so much, that has always consistently been left behind by most media outlets. I’m even more excited Surfalorus is including it in the festival, and bringing bodyboarding into the board exhibit. We’ve been wave sliding and progressing our equipment since the mid 70s and there’s a lot of history that gets glossed over because to many people it’s just a pool toy.”

Dare County Arts Council and Cucalorus have teamed up to add a very special feature film screening to this year’s Surfalorus lineup.

On Saturday, Sept. 21 “And Two If By Sea” filmed by Justin Purser and cleverly narrated by Daniel Tosh will be screened at R/C Kill Devil Hills Movies 10 at 5 p.m. The film is a cinematic adventure that traces the personal and professional life of twin surfers CJ and Damien Hobgood. Purchase your advance tickets to this screening at Surfalorus.com. General admission tickets are $15 and VIP tickets are $25. There will be a Q&A with the filmmaker and a special guest following the screening.

“’And Two If By Sea’ is a film that’s been in the making for five years and a first of its kind to tell the tale of professional surfers on the world championship tour through the lives of identical twins, CJ and Damien Hobgood,” said filmmaker Justin Purser. “Being able to bring the film to the Outer Banks is special to myself, C.J. and Damien. As kids growing up in Florida, the Outer Banks has always been an east coast surfing mecca- A place that is known for having some of the best, most consistent, and powerful waves on the entire coast.”

Surfalorus will conclude at the Outer Banks Brewing Station on Saturday, Sept. 21 with a free screening of Dimensions by Outer Banks native Logan Marshall at 8 p.m. plus two other short films, and will be followed by the 2019 Surfalorus Awards Ceremony, a fire performance by Panda Daniels and live music by Outer Banks band Cor De Lux.

Surfalorus is presented by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. A special thank you to Wells Fargo, Cavalier Surf Shop, Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint KDH, Sarah Spencer Beyond The Sale, Keller Williams Realty, Secret Spot Surf Shop, The Spot, Village Yoga, Birthday Suits, Banks Surf Supply, Barefoot Pool Service, Outer Banks Brewing Station, Sage Island, Saga Realty & Construction, KEES Vacations Outer Banks, White Doe Inn, and Surf Expo for sponsoring the event.

This project is funded in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

For more information about Surfalorus, please call (252) 473 5558 or visit Surfalorus.com.
Dare County Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity.

Cucalorus is an evolving experiment in community building that connects visionary leaders in film, performance and technology, supporting the creation of new work and the development of ideas through festivals, residencies, funding and education. Cucalorus is made possible by UNCW CIE, City of Wilmington, the National Endowment for the Arts, NC Arts Council, and tekMountain.

Photo:
– Packed House At 2018 Surfalorus Screening at Dare County Arts Council in Manteo. Photo courtesy of DCAC.

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