Surfalorus Weekend on the Outer Banks

It’s Surfalorus weekend on the Outer Banks. The 6th annual showing of all films surf related kicked off tonight at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

Typically when we talk about a film festival we hit the highlights…point to some film that looks outstanding, and make recommendations.

Limitless

This year, however, we may already have had our highlight from a 16-year-old filmmaker who hails from Manteo.

Logan Marshall’s 20 minute film Limitless was a surprisingly well-made movie with some very nice photography and a good sound track. What really seemed to set it apart, though was how well Logan handled his theme.

Interviewing three surfers at different times in their careers, he had a 20, 39 and 62-year-old talk about what surfing means to them.

The result is a very diverse perspective yet a very consistent theme of love and repect for the sport.

Hopefully Limitless will be shown at other festivals—it’s that good. And it’s worth seeing.

Other Highlights

Limitless is not the only highlight of Surfalorus, though.

Friday night at the the Dare County Arts Council Gallery in downtown Manteo there’s a

Daniel Pullen mixed media tribute to Mickey McCarthey who passed away in December. A remarkably talented surf photographer, Mickey was one of the nicest people anyone had ever met.

Saturday the festival wraps up at the Outer Banks Brewing Station. Weather permitting—and it looks as though the weather will permit it, it’s an outdoor event.

Surfalorus Friday and Saturday Schedules

Friday, September 22 • Dare County Arts Council, Manteo

Doors open at 6:30pm ; Screening starts at 7pm

**Featuring a collaborative trailer for a 2018 documentary film honoring the late Mickey McCarthy, by Nic McClean**

Mixed Media Tribute Exhibit to Mickey McCarthy by Daniel Pullen, where part of the proceeds go to Betsy McCarthy

Book Signing of “Legends of the Sandbar by Chris Bickford

Longboard exhibit curated by Steve Wise

Food and local brew provided!

DJ Ninja will be spinning records!

Films::

Masonboro // Jake Hart // 2:29

Brotosynthesis // Russ Roe // 4:27

Maranasati // Chris Hannant // 4:07
Winter in Bloom // Russ Roe // 3:38
Protecting the Atlantic // Chris Hannant // 6:34
If I Can Surf… // Luke Williams // 22:04
Fish People // Keith Malloy // 48:41

Saturday, September 23 • Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills

Doors open at 6:30pm; Screening starts at 7pm

Nate Sacks and The Life Hacks plays the main stage inside the Brewing Station!

Fire spinning by Panda Daniels!

Films::

Sealone // Luca Merli // 6:41
Under an Arctic Sky // Chris Burkhard // 39:00
The Church of the Open Sky // Nathan Oldfield // 54:35

Surf Weekend on OBX

Outdoor viewing of Psychic Migrations at the Brewing Station, Friday, September 16.
Outdoor viewing of Psychic Migrations at the Brewing Station, Friday, September 16.

It is wonderful to sit outside and watch a surfing movie, and that is what we got to do tonight as the Dare County Arts Council’s Surfalorus Film Festival opened tonight at the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills.

It was a bit windy, but the screen was anchored and things went really well.

Really good movies. Photography as always the case in surf movies was excellent, but some of the shorts, especially, raised some fascinating questions about  how we view ourselves and what we consider important. The Malloy Brothers in particular stood out in that regard.

This is pretty much a surf themed weekend on the Outer Banks. Surfalorus runs through Saturday and Sunday sees the ESAs—the Eastern Surf Association championships kick off at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

The ESA is the largest amateur surfing organization in the world, and their championships, that last the entire week, feature competition from 10 to 75 or 80.

Last year there were some pretty rough conditions, but the early signs point to much better surf this year.

The competition includes, surfers, SUP, skim board and body boarding so there is something for everyone.