The London Surf / Film Festival is the UK’s largest celebration of the cream of contemporary surf culture. Founded in 2011, this annual showcase brings to these shores the very best surf films from around the globe – a hand picked line up of must-see movies to inspire, excite & entertain while redefining the parameters of possibility.
Surfing and surf culture are wide open to interpretation so we welcome film entries that explore all aspects and angles through documentary to animation and anything in between.
While the main festival is a showcase for international filmmaking The Shorties short film contest is a strand open exclusively to filmmakers from, or based in Britain and Ireland with entries of up to 5 minutes in length. Submissions for The Shorties are open exclusively via londonsurffilmfestival.com.
Alongside a line up of premieres, award winning features and underground hits, LS/FF curates a packed programme of happenings around the festival including the ever popular ‘Audiences With’ – insight from surfing's most inspiring heroes and icons, from both sides of the lens. Set against a backdrop of art, talks, music, gallery shows, workshops, community and more this saline hit of inspiration is the essential cultural happening for anyone of a salt water persuasion.
For many of the films we showcase at London Surf / Film Festival, it will be the only chance you’ll get to watch them as they were intended to be enjoyed – on the big screen, in surround sound, accompanied by a packed crowd of likeminded individuals. Surf movie releases have always been community happenings – the original “social media” experience and that is exactly what the LS/FF is all about.
Now in its 12th year, we’ve grown the event organically, working with some of the most exciting surf filmmakers from across the globe. Since 2011, we’ve been delighted to premiere some 240 film presented by the most exciting & unexpected names in surf & culture inc. 7x world champion Stephanie Gilmore, icon Rob Machado, big wave pioneers Paige Alms & Albee Layer, chargers Torrey Meister, Chippa Wilson & Dion Agius, explorers like Kepa Acero, Keith Malloy surf creatives including Lee Ann Curren, Alex Knost plus leading filmmakers, musicians, artists, photographers, writers & the most relevant names in surf culture.
London Surf / Film Festival is an Approaching Lines Production.
Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best International Short Film, Best Soundtrack, Spirit of the Festival, Shortie of the Year, Shorties Emerging Talent.
As part of our ongoing support for homegrown filmmaking talent, we're delighted to offer £500 cash prize for The Shorties of the Year as well as a prize to accompany the Shorties Emerging Talent Award. Submissions for this category are open exclusively via londonsurffilmfestival.com.
The London Surf / Film Festival Jury is comprised of individuals with a passion for and expertise in the realms of surfing and media. Their backgrounds cover a broad spectrum including filmmakers, producers, commissioning editors, magazine editors, photographers, journalists, actors, artists and cutting edge surfers.
