ShAFF2020: Water Films 1 PG

A selection of the best surf, kayak and other water based adventure films from the past year.

A Kayakers Solo Adventure In India - 14 minutes

Nouria Newman combines a surprising adeptness at playing on white waters with an endless thirst for discovering new horizons.
Nouria decided to head North in India to achieve her goal of kayaking. She had already heard of Zanskar and the lower part of the Indus, both of which are world famous.
She started in Zanskar, headed to Indus and transitioned through beautiful places of India while trying to survive very dangerous situations, both in rivers and on land.

Daughter Of The Sea - 4 minutes

Daughter of the Sea is a short film exploring a fishermans relationship with his daughter and the sea. Shot in the French town St Jean de Luz.

Floe State - 3 minutes

While we thrive on following adrenaline fuelled adventures, this opportunity to take some time and embrace the peace and tranquility that Gilly experiences in her time ice swimming was a true pleasure. Whilst a hostile and unforgiving environment, to most, the presence of mind and calmness is a true inspiration and something that actually translates to all of our day to day encounters.

FLUX - 5 minutes

FLUX plays with representation and narrative to subvert the norms of surf photography and comment on the clashes within surfing. The film explores corporate v counteculture, sport v spiritual and the environmental responsibility of surfing.

One Breath Around The World - 13 minutes

In their new short film, One Breath Around the World, French apnea champion Guillaume Néry and his also free diver wife Julie Gautier take viewers on an underwater odyssey across the globe. Shooting in locations from Mauritius to Mexico to Japan and many stops in between, Néry and Gautier draw on their extensive experience to explore submerged ruins, swim beneath a thick sheet of ice, mingle with a pod of sleeping sperm whales. In the process, they capture mesmerizing images of parts of the planet unseen by most of its human inhabitants.

Surf Cuba - 15 minutes

Inside the communist country of Cuba exists a small but passionate community of surfers who, due to a lack of economic opportunity and governmental support for the sport, number no more than 150. This film colorfully documents the Cuban surf community's struggles and how they overcome them in order to pursue their passion–Cubans don't think about the problem, they think about the solution.

The Tipping Point - 11 minutes

Having been friends since primary school, Téo, Norman and Julien went their separate ways following university; Téo found work in the Netherlands, Norman in France and Julien in Canada. However in 2015 they reunited to spend the Christmas holidays together at Téo's house in the Netherlands and this reunion turned out to be the catalyst for the adventure of a lifetime. Julien knew that Téo was interested in sailing, so for Christmas he gave him a book about sailing around the world. This innocuous gift led to a conversation that concluded with the 3 young Frenchmen leaving their jobs, buying a boat, learning to sail and setting out on the adventure of a lifetime; to sail around the world together. And that's how The Apprentis Nomades began!
Fast forward 3 years later and a battered and bruised La Julianne carrying the three exhausted adventurers limps into safe harbour in Adelaide, South Australia. They had survived the 'roaring forties' and touched on the 'furious fifties' and are lucky to be alive. Emotionally and physically exhausted, with no money left, they decide to remain in Adelaide to recover and rebuild. It's during this period that Julien has a chance meeting with Melisa, who is completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Producing at the University of South Australia and as part of her course must produce a short documentary.
Melisa (Producer): "they had so many interesting stories and lots of incredible footage of amazing places from all over the world, but I had to focus on the section of their trip that I found the most interesting; the time they spent in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean when they sailed to the Kerguelen Islands, one of the most isolated islands on the planet. What they went through both before and after Kerguelen tested them to their absolute limit, but what I found most intriguing about these three remarkable young men is their personal journey. So rather than simply focusing on the story of their trip, I wanted to show you who they are, to reveal their incredible heart and spirit and how the time they spent in the Indian Ocean has impacted them both individually and as a team. They really are three of the most incredible and inspiring young men that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and I’m in awe of them as human beings.”

The Long River Home - 20 minutes

The Long River Home is a 20 minute documentary film about overcoming the residual impacts of war through kayaking with a team. Aaron Howell and Russell Davies are combat veterans who were injured in war and now come together for another mission as they guide blind Navy veteran, Lonnie Bedwell, on his third trip through the Grand Canyon. Over a 14 day river trip they battle more than 80 powerful rapids, screaming directions to Lonnie the whole way. Always looming downstream roars Lava Falls, the largest rapid of them all. Throughout the journey they remember their past experiences and learn that negotiating the rapids of life is as simple as forming a team, kicking out in the current, and finding a line through the chaos. Sponsored by: Clif Bar Executive Producer: Timmy O'Neill.