program
PRogram info
NISFF is not the kind of festival where people quietly sit in neat rows and leave the second the credits roll.
People stay. They laugh. They swap stories. They talk about the film they just watched, the person they saw in the crowd, the line they loved, or the moment that caught them by surprise. That is part of the fun, too, because the festival is as much about the people in the room as it is about what is on the screen. It has that easy, local, summer-in-winter kind of feeling where everything feels a little more open, a little more social, and a lot more memorable.
If you have been craving a festival that feels warm, lively and genuinely enjoyable, this is it.
Good stories deserve a lighter footprint. Download the Festival Program and help us reduce paper waste while keeping more trees standing.
Thursday 13th August: The J, Noosa
Beyond Borders Patagonia I Dir. Jed J Fasso I AU I 65 MIN.
From perfect waves and snow-capped peaks to remote deserts and rugged coastlines, Beyond Borders – Patagonia follows Jed Fasso and a crew of surfers, snowboarders and filmmakers on an epic journey through Chile’s wild frontiers.
In search of a hidden mountain and an undiscovered wave, the adventure becomes a story of friendship, resilience and the rewards of stepping beyond the familiar.
Partial yet minimal subtitles in Beyond Borders Patagonia.
Finding San Nicolas I Dir. John Cutts I UK I 27 min.
In 1970, two young English surfers arrived on Gran Canaria and became the first to surf the wave at San Nicolas, capturing their journey on six rolls of Super 8 film.
Left unedited for over 50 years, the footage is now brought to life with new interviews, creating a film that is part surf adventure, part historical record and part environmental warning about a wave that no longer exists.
Tides of Time I Dir. Grégory Mignard, Yoann Renambot I FR I 4 min.
In a world obsessed with the new, a man sets out to restore an old surfboard. What begins as a simple repair becomes a reflection on time, consumption and the value of making things last.
Tides of Time is a thoughtful and beautifully crafted film that celebrates repair over replacement, and the quiet beauty of objects that endure.
Friday 14th August: The J, Noosa
Jack Johnson SURFILMUSIC I Dir. Emmett Malloy I USA I 1hr 15 min.
Before he became a global music icon, Jack Johnson was a surfer and filmmaker capturing life on Oahu’s North Shore. Featuring rare footage and stories behind seminal surf films Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions, SURFILMUSIC traces Johnson’s remarkable journey from surf filmmaker to chart-topping musician.
A celebration of creativity, friendship and the enduring connection between surfing, film and music.
Finding True North I Dir. Matty Schweitzer I USA I 39min.
After a life-changing snowboarding accident and years of addiction, Josh Bogle discovers healing and purpose through adaptive surfing in Hawai‘i. His remarkable journey leads him to become the world’s first quadruple amputee surfer with prosthetic legs.
Finding True North is a powerful story of resilience, recovery and the transformative power of the ocean.
Beehives & Bottom Turns I Dir. Brad Coetzee I AU I 11 min
What do bees and surfing have in common? More than you might think. Featuring local surfer and beekeeper Tom from Coastal Nectar, Beehives & Bottom Turns explores the connection between bees, ocean and climate.
From local waves to local classrooms, Tom shares his passion for protecting pollinators and the environment, reminding us that healthy ecosystems, on land and sea, are deeply connected.
Saturday 15th August 4pm: Noosa Event Cinemas
Women in Surf - A collection of Shorts and Mid-Length films by and with women.
Naru Nyami I Dir. Shannon Hayes I AU I 3 min.
Naru Nyami is a moving documentary celebrating the connection between First Nations women, the ocean and each other. Through surfing, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters and Friends come together in spaces of healing, belonging and cultural connection.
Inspired by the Naru Surf Gathering, the film is a powerful reflection on community, wellbeing and the enduring relationship between women, Country and sea.
Water Guardians I Dir. Caroline Mardok I USA I 10 min.
Set against the backdrop of New York City, Water Guardians follows a diverse group of young surfers finding community, confidence and connection through the ocean.
Supported by parents, mentors and volunteer instructors, they are helping reshape a sport long seen as exclusive. At a time of growing environmental and social challenges, this uplifting film celebrates the power of surfing to create belonging, healing and change.
Good Morning Gaza I Dir. Doerthe Eickelberg I GER I 10 min.
Sabah was one of Gaza’s first female surfers. Following the events of October 7 and the war that followed, she lost her home, her community and access to the sea she loves.
Through intimate selfie videos shared with a filmmaker friend in Germany, Good Morning Gaza offers a deeply personal portrait of resilience, friendship and the enduring power of surfing in times of unimaginable upheaval.
Surf Sisters I Dir.Christian Buxton I AU I 7 min
After the end of a 25-year marriage, Lara found herself starting over in a new city. A simple piece of advice led her to the ocean, where learning to surf at 50 opened the door to friendship, confidence and a renewed sense of self.
Through the support of her surf community, Surf Sisters is an uplifting story of resilience, reinvention and the power of sisterhood in the sea.
Undercurrents I Dir. Maddie Meddings I UK I 29 min.
At just 16, rising surfer Imari Hearn sets her sights on surfing Nazaré, one of the world’s most powerful and unpredictable waves. Guiding her journey is big wave surfer Laura Crane, who is determined to open doors that were never opened for her.
More than a surfing spectacle, Undercurrents is an inspiring story of mentorship, courage and the strength of women supporting women in and beyond the lineup.
Cold Water Sirens I Dir. Lena Siebertz I DK I 10 min.
Set on the rugged coast of Northern Denmark, Cold Water Sirens captures the joys and challenges of cold-water surfing through the eyes of a community of female surfers.
From frozen hair and flat car batteries to laughter and shared waves, this charming short celebrates friendship, resilience and showing up for the ocean, no matter the conditions.
The Sea and She I Dir. Tyler Shortt I USA I 22 min.
Narrated by five-time World Champion surfer Carissa Moore, The Sea and She follows young Hawaiian surfer Sunny Kazama as she navigates competition, identity and the transition into adulthood.
From the waves of Waikīkī to the halls of government, Sunny emerges as an advocate for her sport and community, helping secure surfing as a recognised high school sport in Hawai‘i. A heartfelt coming-of-age story about courage, culture and finding your voice.
Wahine Waveriders I Dir. Kirsty Marshall, Zyanya Jackson I NZ I 18 min.
Set in the small coastal town of Riverton on New Zealand’s South Island, Wāhine Waveriders celebrates three generations of the Pou family and their deep connection to the ocean.
Through stories of surfing, healing and family, the film explores how the sea can nurture physical and emotional wellbeing, while reflecting on the changing role of women in surfing across generations.
Saturday 15th August 7PM: Noosa Event Cinemas
Niokobokk I Dir. Ben Herrgott I AU I 1hr 12 min.
What began as an adventure became a journey of discovery. Travelling 8,000 kilometres along the Atlantic coast by bicycle and surfboard, two filmmakers journey through Europe and West Africa in search of waves, culture and connection.
From the shores of France to the deserts of the Sahara and the coastlines of Senegal and The Gambia, this beautifully observed film captures the people, music and landscapes encountered along the way, revealing a world rich in wisdom and wonder.
Monozukuri I Dir. Jorge Abian I SP I 16 min
In Japan, monozukuri is more than craftsmanship. It is a philosophy that honours the relationship between human hands, materials, nature and time.
Set against a world of mass production, this beautifully observed film explores the dedication of Japanese artisans who spend a lifetime mastering a single craft, revealing the quiet power of making things with care and purpose.
ECAT I Dir. Josh Hamilton I AU I 15 min.
A decade after the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve was dedicated, ECAT revisits the journey that connected communities through a shared love of waves.
Bringing together voices from surfing, conservation and culture, the film explores how coastlines shape identity and why protecting waves, ecosystems and surf heritage matters for generations to come.
Where You Look: Selah Surf I Dir. Leo Cavazzana I BR I 14 min.
Set in Cape Town, Where You Look: Selah Surf follows Luke and the Selah Surf initiative, introducing children and young people from underserved communities to the ocean. At its core, this is a story about proximity: between land and water, mentor and student, fear and freedom. And about the quiet courage it takes to paddle toward the unknown.
Sunday 16th August 2PM: Noosa Event Cinemas
Australian Dream I Dir. Tiago P. de Carvalho I PT I 1hr 29 min.
From a tiny fishing village in Portugal, six underdog surfers travel to Australia with a dream: to take on the world elite at one of surfing’s most iconic championships.
Australian Dream is an inspiring story of talent, determination and community as these young surfers set out to take over the world elite and prove that greatness can emerge from the smallest of places.
Nothing But Blue I Dir. Sebastian Bechtel I GER I 16 min.
Olympic surfer Tim Elter has dedicated his life to chasing one of surfing’s purest pursuits: riding inside the tube. But beyond the thrill lies a constant dance with fear, injury and the unknown.
Following a spontaneous mission to Ireland’s legendary wave Aileen’s, Nothing But Blue offers an intimate portrait of a young athlete searching for balance, meaning and joy at the edge of possibility.