RUSSIAN FILM WINS BIG AT 2019 BELLS BEACH Surf Film Festival

The Bells Beach Surf Film Festival has had another successful year, screening 10 international surf films and three Australian premieres.

Priboi – the first full-length documentary about Russian surfing – won best film for its innovative narrative and cinematography, cleverly intersecting Russia and Siberia to showcase some of the coldest and most remote surfing destinations.

Showcased on opening night, the documentary’s stunning scenery and direction by Konstantin Kokorev captivated the audience, marking its top placing.

Andrew Kaineder’s film Beyond the Noise won best cinematography while Tan by Swiss director Alena Ehrenbold was crowned best short film.

The festival awards committee was thrilled to announce that Priboi also won the prestigious Peter Troy Spirit of Surfing award, the first time in the festival’s nine-year history that a film has won both best film and the Peter Troy award.

Named after Peter Troy, a Torquay surfer who embarked on an incredible three-year surf trip around the world in 1963, the award is a token to one of the greatest journeys in the history of modern surfing.

The Bells Beach Surf Film Festival will return in January 2020 to celebrate its 10th year, bringing the best surf films to the Surf Coast.

For more information, head to bellsbeachsurffilmfestival.com.