Surf’s up: Surfalorus partners with Wahine Classic and announces 15th anniversary film lineup
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Surfalorus Film Festival is marking its 15th anniversary with a new partnership and a lineup of surf films celebrating adventure, creativity and coastal culture.
Presented by the Cucalorus Film Foundation, the annual festival returns Aug. 7–9 with screenings at Wrightsville Beach and Jengo’s Playhouse in Wilmington. This year’s event partners with the Wahine Classic, one of the East Coast’s premier all-female surfing competitions, bringing together two events that highlight North Carolina’s vibrant surfing community.
Festival organizers have also unveiled the complete film lineup, with festival passes and individual tickets now available.
“Surfalorus has always been about celebrating the culture, creativity, and community that surround the ocean,” said Zach Hanner, director of the Surfalorus Film Festival. “We’re stoked to partner with the Wahine Classic as we celebrate our 15th anniversary. Together, we’re highlighting the incredible people, stories, and traditions that make North Carolina’s surf community so special. We’re excited to be back in Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington and we hope to have a huge turnout of surf movie fans.”
Founded in Wrightsville Beach in 2013, the Wahine Classic has become one of the only all-female surfing competitions on the East Coast. The annual event attracts amateur and professional surfers while promoting mentorship, community and ocean stewardship.
The festival kicks off Friday, Aug. 7, with a free outdoor screening of the Wahine Shorts Block at 8 p.m. at Surf City Surf Shop in Wrightsville Beach. Timed to coincide with the opening of the Wahine Classic, the screening will feature seven short surf films under the stars. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
On Saturday, Aug. 8, the festival moves to Jengo’s Playhouse for an 8 p.m. screening of Jack Johnson: SURFILMUSIC. The documentary follows the musician’s journey from filming friends surfing on Oahu’s North Shore to becoming an internationally recognized recording artist.
Long before topping the music charts, Johnson was known in the surf world as a filmmaker, helping shape modern surf culture through influential films such as Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions. The documentary combines archival footage with present-day reflections to explore how surfing, travel and creativity inspired both his filmmaking and music career.
The festival concludes Sunday, Aug. 9, with two feature films exploring friendship, adventure and the soul of surfing.
Kingdom of the Evening, directed by Surfalorus alumnus Clint Davis, follows acclaimed surfer Kepa Acero as he returns to Morocco 15 years after a life-changing surf trip. Reuniting with longtime friend Yassine, known as Snoopy Style, and filmmaker Ayoub Abouizza, the group searches for the uncrowded waves and freedom they once experienced while discovering how both Morocco and their own lives have changed over time.
The closing program also includes Fun Island, a documentary from Wilmington filmmaker and former Outer Banks resident Jason Andre. The film follows a surfing expedition during the COVID-19 pandemic that takes an unexpected turn when two members of the crew become stranded in quarantine on the aptly named “Fun Island,” resulting in a humorous look at the unpredictability of international surf travel.
Individual tickets are $10, while three-day festival passes are available for $15. Tickets, passes and the complete festival schedule are available now through the Surfalorus Film Festival.
