The Winners of Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival 2020
After four days of kick-flips, tube rides and sold-out screenings, the Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival has crowned it’s winning films.
In this year’s fifth edition, 18 international films competed for four trophies: Best Skateboard Feature, Best Surf Feature, Best Skateboard Short and Best Surf Short.
As a media partner, Doc Weekly was in attendance throughout the festival and we were delighted to join the record-breaking audience for the awards ceremony.
Below you’ll find the winning films and directors, along with release information and watch links.
Best Skate Feature
Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad by Matt Harris
When a tragedy strikes the worlds most unique skatepark, a group of old school skaters, BMX riders and street artists team up to fight for its survival.
We absolutely loved this film and had the pleasure of interviewing Matt during the festival - more to come on that soon!
Rom Skatepark will become a drive-in theatre for the film’s UK Premiere on October 10 and will be available to watch online from October 13.
Best Surf Feature
Out Deh: The Youth of Jamaica by Louis Josek
Outdeh is a documentary film that portrays the Youth of Jamaica: a new generation in transition, determined to get out of old and set structures in society and culture – and contribute with their fresh mindset and strength to a new understanding of the island.
This was the festival’s brilliant opening film, you can read our full review here.
You can now watch “Out Deh” for free on Red Bull Media!
Best Skate Short
Uncomfortably Comfortable by Myriah Marquez
Living life to its fullest, Myriah Rose Marquez, a co-founder of the all-women’s skateboard collective, GRLSWIRL, makes her vehicle her home in Venice. This film is the impressionistic diary of her nomadic adventures. Called "The Ultimate Road Movie (in 13 minutes)” by critic James Kenny, we follow along as Myriah processes her life and tries to shift society’s standards of compassion.
We were first introduced to this unlikely film by producer Neil Cohen in June and chose to feature it in our Free of the Week series which in turn introduced it to ours friends at PSSFF.
Watch it from the embed below or at this link.
Best Surf Short
Just Go Fucking Surfing by Juul Hesselberth
Although more women are surfing, their stories still remain rarely told. What does the marketed ‘sexy surfer girl’ image do with women who never felt like they suited this image? How has this influenced their career and self-esteem? For her ethnographic documentary Juul Hesselberth spent three months in Australia, where she followed four female pro surfers whom pursue(d) a surfing career. This film moves through the online representations to the lived reality of female athletes.
Juul’s film was a worthy addition to our festival-wide Top 5 and we even got the chance to skate together during our interview in Paris - more to come on that soon!
“Just Go Fucking Surfing” doesn’t yet have a release date.
Documentary Weekly is proud to be an official media partner of the Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival (PSSFF), taking place 24th to 27th September at L’Entrepôt, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
Get in touch to collaborate with us.
