VNR including new highlights from the first week of Flotsam HERE
With several lay days called for the WSL Championship Tour at Burleigh Heads this week, surf fans and locals are turning their attention to Flotsam Festival, which has just hit the halfway point of its two-week run across the Southern Gold Coast.
Running until 14 May, the not-for-profit festival has transformed the coastline from Coolangatta to Burleigh into a coastal arts trail, with most events free to attend.
"This week is a great time to explore the festival," Flotsam Director Carolyn Emge said. "There’s a strong line-up of events led by women in surf photography and film, and the WSL lay days mean there's no better time to come out and discover what’s on offer. Flotsam has had an incredible start, with the vibe at the Kirra Immerse Hub and performances at the Next Wave Youth Showcase setting the tone. And there’s still so much to come, including the return of the popular Canisters analogue photography exhibition, and the launch of International Masters of Surf, curated by legendary photographer Ted Grambeau."
Tonight, Wednesday 7 May, Women and the Wind premieres at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse as part of a Climate Community Night. The free screening follows an all-women crew on a voyage tracking plastic across the North Atlantic on a 50-year-old wooden catamaran.
On Thursday 8 May, Flotsam presents Surf Girls on Film, a not-to-be-missed evening of female-driven films and panel discussions at Balter Brewery. The night includes a panel led by Gold Coast surfer Pacha Light presenting her film Ceibo, alongside panels with photographers Beatriz Ryder and Melissa Hoareau. The evening will also include a preview screening of Harmony, by filmmaker Shannon Hayes and starring surfer Anne dos Santos, as they set off on a sailboat, deep into the remote Pacific.
"Flotsam Festival is more than a celebration of surf culture," Hayes said. "It’s a platform for stories that often don’t get told, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share our work in such an empowering and inclusive space."
Then on Friday 9 May, Flotsam will host the brand new Human X - Saga feature at Cinebar Coolangatta, followed by a live Q&A with big wave surfer and 2024 Female Surfer of the Year Laura Enever, who stars in the film.
"This film is about more than just adventure. It’s about courage, fear and pushing yourself to the limit," Enever said. "I’m stoked to be part of Flotsam and connect with audiences who live and breathe the surf culture like I do."
On Saturday 10 May, analogue photography exhibition Canisters led by photographers including Nat McComas and Charlotte Beers hits Burleigh. On Sunday 11 May, the Homegrown film and photo showcase comes to Burleigh's Justins Park, featuring a free community event that celebrates the region’s brightest talent.
Created in 2021 to support artists affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, Flotsam Festival has since grown into one of the country’s leading surf arts festivals. This year’s event coincides with the return of the WSL Championship Tour to the Gold Coast and offers an extensive line-up of screenings, exhibitions, concerts, artist talks and workshops.
Flotsam Festival is a multi-site film and photography celebration inspired by surf culture. The fourth annual Flotsam Flotsam Festival will run from 1st to 14th May, 2025. Flotsam Festival is presented by Flotsam Arts Inc, a not-for-profit association formed to create pivotal events that showcase the Gold Coast’s iconic surf culture through photo and film, and to create opportunities for photographic artists to extend their practice through mentorships, workshops and exhibition opportunities.
Contact details
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- Carolyn Ridings Emge
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Soul Arch Media
P: 07 55595551
M: 0415301913 - caz@soularchmedia.com