People all over the world are coming up with increasingly-creative ways to keep us feeling connected and stimulated, even if many of us are isolated in our homes. The latest case in point: The Lockdown Surf Film Festival.
SURFER MAGAZINE
THE IDEA
As a response to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns and self isolation, we wanted to quickly create an online event to unite the global surf community, to support surfers and creatives and to keep the stoke fires going.
Founded by Chris Nelson & Demi Taylor.
THE RESULT
Launched Friday 27th March 2020, Edition 1 Lockdown Surf x Film Festival was a free, rolling, remote festival & celebration of surf culture. Devised, developed and delivered, from concept to launch in 5 days including branding, website, media campaign and original content. A community activation bringing together the global surf family and resulting in a viewership of sixty thousand unique users, global media impact and global brand engagement across a ten week period. We curated a handpicked line up of 14 of the very best movies. Each film was available for free, online for 24hrs. Each screening was accompanied by filmmaker talks in conversation with some of the most celebrated cultural commentators.
THE APPROACH
We wanted to quickly create a space to help our community through what might be a long period of life on hold. From idea to design, build and launch in one week, the result was a truly international online festival celebrating the very best of contemporary surf culture.
A remote surf culture happening, Lockdown Surf Film Festival delivered a rolling, evolving festival and a community event for surfers and creatives. Drawing on our network we were delighted to work with the most exciting and relevant creatives from across the globe to host a series of free film screenings. Alongside, we produced a series of intimate interviews featuring directors and talent in conversation with surf culture luminaries and leading raconteurs including Smash Surf’s Tyler Breuer, Surf Splendor’s David Scales, Looking Sideways’ Matt Barr as well as Approaching Lines’ own Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor. LSFF captured the zeitgeist of the moment, engaging a world wide audience with a third from the UK, a third from the USA and the remainder from across the globe including Aus, Ger, Can, SA, NZ and South America.
FOUND FOOTAGE FILES
Keeping the creativity rolling we established The Found Footage Files short film competition. Celebrating the art of breathing new life into archive footage, filmmakers were invited to enter a short film up to 5 minutes in length using old, footage from their files. The twelve best films are showcased HERE.
WiFi WAVES
In association with award winning filmmaker Chris McClean and Backwash we also co-produced WiFi Waves. This crowdsourced movie project celebrated the power of community. Featuring some of the very best clips, rushes and sessions from a host of surfers and filmmakers across the globe, the project was edited by @chrismcclean and scored by @cj_mirra & @lacurren. WiFi Waves premiered as part of the gala closing of Edition 1 Lockdown Surf Film Festival.
Lockdown Surf Film Festival was produced with the kind help and support of our international network of surf creatives.
These are unprecedented times. Self-isolation. Surf bans. Lockdowns. So, the fine folk at London Surf / Film Festival have assembled a motley crew from all corners of the surfing world, to bring you the Lockdown Surf Film Festival.
Jason Lock, Editor Magicseaweed