Chris Nelson brings more than 20 years experience in delivering cutting edge, independent media as a filmmaker, journalist, editor and producer, exploring the intersection of the counterculture and the mainstream. He founded two genre defining action sports magazines, shaping content and direction over 18 issues, establishing him as an authority on youth and surf culture. He is a filmmaker behind The Big Sea – a multi-award winning documentary described by Keme Nzerem, BAFTA nominated journalist and Channel 4 News presenter as “One of the most important outdoor films of all times which exposes how deadly environmental racism and the petrochemical industry collides with surfing.” He has written documentaries about multiple world champions plus series and films for brands, business and production companies from the likes of Red Bull Media House to The National Trust and Quantum Black to O’Neill.
As an environmental campaigner Chris has been invited to speak at gatherings from UNGA Goals House in New York for Climate Week, through to University post graduate groups on climate justice and storytelling. As a cultural commentator he has appeared on TV and radio and delivered talks on surf culture for international brands and literary festivals. As a freelance writer, he has contributed to a variety of national press and international publications from The Telegraph, The Independent and The Guardian to Huck, GQ and Esquire. He has authored nine best selling non-fiction books exploring culture, surf and travel including the critically acclaimed Cold Water Souls – an anthropological study of surfing’s cold water pioneers. He is the co-founder of the London Surf / Film Festival.
A few of our favourites
