Last month, we held our 23rd Annual Surf Movie Night at the Southampton Arts Center -- and it was our favorite one to date!
The event kicked off at 5:30 pm with music by John Sapienta, a local acoustic musician who kept us grooving all night. Attendees perused a surf swap supported by NeoNeo Surf, plus we sold our limited edition Surf Movie Night t-shirts and Surfrider swag.
Refreshments included fresh salads and sandwiches from Grace + Greens and craft beer from Westhampton Beach Brewing Co.
We were also joined by many local non-profit partners, including South Fork Natural History Museum, Southampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, Rewild LI, and the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers.
We were also joined by vendors such as Session Magazine, All One Voice Poetry, and Surfrider Partner Faherty!
Meanwhile, we held an opportunity drawing (i.e. raffle) and auction. We had a new silent auction addition this year - a custom made board from Dryft Watersports, worth up to $1,000. The winner, Alex H., got to create his very own design for a new board. Congratulations, Alex!
Our selection this year was almost entirely surf films - but many with heartwarming stories, including:
🌊 City Surf
A documentary about a San Francisco nonprofit introducing young people to surfing and ocean connection.
📸 Christa Funk: First In, Last Out
Journey into the ocean through the lens of surf photographer Christa Funk, whose perspective brings waves and water to life. A crowd favorite!
🌿 Kelp Movement
The story of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, highlighting seaweed’s role in cultural resilience and environmental solutions.
🏄 HERE
A film by John John Florence, featuring John, Nathan, and Ivan during the 2023/24 North Shore winter season.
♻️ Community Solutions for Aquaculture Marine Debris
A Surfrider Foundation and Oregon Sea Grant project spotlighting grassroots approaches to tackling aquaculture debris.
🌍 Chasing The Unicorn – A Mozambican Surf Story
An exploration of Mozambique’s surf history in the wake of civil war and the search for a mythical wave known as the African Kirra.
All together, with over 200 of us in community, we raised over $20,000 for our chapter and all the amazing things we do on the East End of Long Island. Just as important, we raised awareness for our mission and stoke in our community! It was a beautiful evening that would not be possible without our supporters, partners, and 20 volunteers who helped run the event. Thank you to everyone who supported Surf Movie Night -- we already can't wait for next year!
*All Photo & Video Courtesy of Bobby Alan Hamski