For decades Santa Barbara has attracted and cultivated a melange of innovators from legendary shapers like Renny Yater, Al Merick & Matt Moore to some of the biggest names in surf history like Tom Curren, Bobby Martinez & George Greenough and continues to produce top-tier talent to this day. There is a certain element to the “Santa Barbara Surf Culture”, combining tradition with radical innovation, that has played an influential role in the international surf scene for over 50 years.
The Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival is the ultimate celebration of surf culture and Santa Barbara's rich surf history. Returning for its fourth year, the festival includes film screenings, live music, art in multiple mediums, local charities and vendors, and food & artisan drinks. Films screened at SBSFF range from new independent, international, documentary and short films, and often include in person dialogue with the filmmakers. Musical acts range from local acoustic duos, to teenage bands, to headlining artists. Past guest appearances have been from surfing legends such as Sean Thompson, Tom Curren and Dick Metz. The festival also includes a "grom program" - giving local up-and-coming surfers a platform to screen their surfing highlights. Proceeds from the festival's silent auction and raffle are donated to ocean-centric local charities.
