Surf films impress at Torquay festival

HUNDREDS of people enjoyed some of the world’s top surf flicks at the 14th annual Bells Beach Surf Film Festival last week.

The three-day event was held at the Australian National Surfing Museum, and featured 10 films and special guest speakers.

The festival opened on Thursday last week with a showing of Jay Phillips Isn’t Dead and local films Solly and Belinda.

Will Solly brought a few of the surfboards and fins used in his film to the opening night premiere and participated in an engaging Q&A.

 

The following night, a big crowd attended a screening of African Territory II, a documentary about the Azulay brothers and an epic surf adventure along the coast of Africa.

Kin (Dave Rastovich) and the Creed McTaggart section of Vacuum were also popular.

 

Saturday’s closing night featured big wave surfer Russell Bierke pulling into massive tubes in Outer Edge of Leisure and showings of Walkabout and Point of Change, which recounts the discovery of world-class waves in Nias, Indonesia.

Bells Beach Surf Film Festival director John Foss said the event again brought out the best in surf film-making.

“The 2025 Bells Beach Surf Film Festival was one of our biggest ever with two of the three nights in Torquay selling out. We were stoked in particular to have Will Solly and his family turn up on opening night. It turned into an engaging chat and the first time we have had a shaper present to an audience.

“Overall, it was a great success. Every year it just seems to get better and better.

“In 2026, the festival turns 15 and we are already planning extra events and activities to celebrate.”

 

The winners of the festival were also announced by the committee on closing night.

Rebecca Coley’s Point of Change won Best Film and the Peter Troy Spirit of Surfing Award.

Jay Phillips Isn’t Dead won best short film, while best cinematography went to Andrew Kaineder’s film Outer Edge of Leisure.