As the dust settles on another successful London Surf Film Festival, and those that took the trip up to the capital disperse into the wilder corners of the UK and beyond, we thought it was about time we did a quick round-up of events. If you haven’t seen our Instagram account of late (where have you been? Check it out HERE), Northcore were title sponsors of the 12th annual Shorties event - An ever evolving display of creativity within surfing.
With that came a few VIP tickets (gold wrist bands and all). So on Thursday and Friday evenings, we packed up early from the office and headed across London to Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Here we were met by old friends, new faces, and a room packed full of creators and surfers sharing their stories on the silver screen.
We first want to say a huge thank you to Demi Taylor (@imaybesurfing) and Chris Nelson (@approachinglines) for putting on such an incredible event. They truly are legends in the game - supporting young talent, giving surf filmmakers a platform to share their work a little wider, and hosting a beautiful festival of surf in the heart (just to the left actually) of London. We appreciate you.
Now without further adieu, it’s time to announce the winners…
LS / FF 23 x Northcore Shortie of the Year Winner
A massive congratulations to Thomas Horig (@thomashorig) and his film ‘So, Bonnie Land’, taking the win in this year's LS/FF 23 x Northcore Shorties category. Here’s a little intro from the man behind the lens:
“So, Bonnie Land is a short film of gratitude to a wild and beautiful place, and the folk who make it so."
Watching this film on the big screen felt pretty special, and it was clear that it had resonated with so many. To commemorate the win, we thought it only right to put a little Northcore spin on the prize giving - presenting Thomas an embroidered Beach Basha Pro. We just can’t help ourselves…
It’s well worth seeking out the film and we are very much looking forward to seeing what Thomas is cooking up next!
LS / FF 23 x Northcore Emerging Talent Winner
Robert Blackett (@robertblackett) deservedly walked away with the Emerging Talent Award at this year’s event. His film ‘There And Back Again’ includes some hefty swells and an exciting crew of young shredders on the hunt for something special. Here’s a quick rundown:
"A journey North for new cold water experiences and waves of consequence with Woody New and a wild forecast to accompany."
You can catch the full trailer over on our Instagram feed HERE.
Ones to Watch
The narrative of the evening is one of varied runtimes, with the shorties tucked neatly beside feature-length films - some premiering for the first time at the London Surf Film Festival. As we settled into our seats on opening night with a can of Sharp’s Brewery Offshore, we were in for a real treat. Here’s a selection of some of our favourites:
POINT OF CHANGE // Dir. Rebecca Coley
TRANSLATE // Dir. Chris McClean
CORNERS OF THE EARTH // Dir. Spencer Frost & Guy Wiliment
YAMA // Dir. Maddie Meddings
End Credits
After 12 editions, some 265 film premiers, with art shows, live music, talks and a whole heap of good times, the London Surf Film Festival is not to be missed. Thanks again to Demi and Chris for having us, as well to all the filmmakers who shared their stories.
Le fin.