The Dana Point Film Festival is all about celebrating the ocean – whether it’s the preservation of the sea, putting a spotlight on creatures who call it home, or showcasing its waves as a surfer’s playground.
The second annual The Endless Summer + Dana Point Film Festival this weekend showcases more than 40 hours of film and entertainment at various locations throughout the city, including three nights of free community events with screenings and music at Salt Creek Beach Park overlooking the ocean.
“It’s a coming together of the community that loves the ocean,” said film festival board member Norb Garrett. “That’s what it’s about.”
Festivities kick off Thursday night with a VIP meet-and-greet with film makers at Station Craft Brewery. The film festival kicks off Friday, May 3, and is at three venues this year – the Dana Point Sailing Center in the harbor, the nearby Dana Point Women’s Club and Salt Creek Beach.
The lineup includes more than 50 feature films and shorts from around the world, as well as informative panels and Q&As with filmmakers.
The film festival aims at keeping alive the legacy of filmmaker Bruce Brown, who created “The Endless Summer,” said Alex Mecl, co-founder and CFO of the festival. It’s a way to allow others to showcase their filmmaking in the beach town where Brown honed his craft, he said. The image for “The Endless Summer’s” iconic poster was shot at Salt Creek Beach.
Mecl, CEO of Bruce Brown Films since the ’90s, said the festival is the next chapter in the famed filmmaker’s legacy, to create a community-focused event that will help others showcase their work.
“It aligned with his personal beliefs. Bruce was a worldly man, what he thrived on was documenting different cultures. He thrived on diversity and meeting people,” Mecl said. “It’s something he would be proud of.”
While last year screened 1994’s “The Endless Summer II,” this year celebrates the next generation with Dana Brown, Bruce’s son, showing his 2003 film “Step Into Liquid,” as the headliner Saturday night at Salt Creek. There will also be live music that evening by Common Sense, an Orange County-born reggae rock band.
Dana Browm, the oldest son of filmmaker Bruce Brown, speaks during a ceremony unveiled his statue at Waterman Plaza in Dana Point in 2019. Dana Brown will be showing his film Step Into Liquid at the The Endless Summer + Dana Point Film Festival on May 4, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The free community screenings at Salt Creek kick off Friday with a Volcom night that will have surf personality Chris Cote as the DJ and showings of two surf films, “Munich,” a short that follows surfer Noa Deane through Australia, followed by their team rider film “Psychic Migrations.”
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The final evening, Sunday, is geared toward families, featuring Disney’s “Moana” and a Hawaiian theme through the night, with hula dancers giving performances and lessons, live music by Kevin “Nappy” Napoleon and Kawika Kahiapo. There will also be free CPR lessons for the public.
“We’re really trying to make this more of a lifestyle event in the guise and platform of a film festival,” Mecl said. “We will be the festival of the oceans.”
Throughout the three days, ticketed screenings will feature several surf films such as “Trilogy: New Wave,” which follows San Clemente World Tour surfer Griffin Colapinto and other top surfers; “The Impossible Wave,” the story of International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre’s quest to get surfing into the Olympics; and “Martin Shapes,” which tells the story of Dana Point shaper Josh Martin following in the footsteps of his father Terry Martin.
“Where this takes on great importance is the focus on the ocean, ocean environmental issues and Southern California as a surf mecca, a surf hub,” said Garrett. “Having a film festival in Dana Point is a natural. You have such great surf history coming out of this part of the state.”
Several ocean-themed films will highlight preservation, education and ocean adventure, such as “Kahu Mano: The Guardians of the Sharks,” “Orca – Black & White Gold” and “Cause a Sea Change: Save Sharks.”
For a full schedule or tickets to films, or VIP tickets for the Salt Creek showings, go to danapointfilm.com.
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