James Fullbright                                                Medhi
         Miles to Surf                                             Blue Sahara
 

 
The Jury + Roland & Bruno Delaye

Zen & Zero wins Best Film at St Jean de Luz Surf Film Festival !

Version Francais

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 29 May, 2006 : - - It was with great pleasure and surprise that the Austrians Michael Ginthor & " Liquid Frame Film", received last night the award for Best Film, "Aileron du Meilleur Film de Surf 2006" for "Zen & Zero". The Award was presented at the closing Ceremony of the Third International Surf Film Festival in St Jean de Luz, France.

Why do Austrians, landlocked people, shoot a film on Surfing? That sounds like Jamaicans doing a film on Skiing…

A small group of Austrian independent filmmakers have joined forces to come up with a film about surfing, a car deal and their road trip all the way down to Costa Rica. 7.000 miles lie between Los Angeles and Costa Rica, a classic surf trip and a classic scenario for a road trip of its own kind.

If that does not surprise you, this will: the same group of Austrian filmmakers completed their movie two years after their return from Central America and moved on to take home awards for Best Story and Best Director and are further nominated for Best Movie and Best Original Score at the X-Dance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Zen & Zero’s world premiere at the academy awards of action sport and its success at this renowned festival is futher proof that there can be more to a good surfing movie than just compelling images. This film tells a story, a true story.

Zen and Zero subsequently was invited to other great festivals such as the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Malibu International Film Festival, Santa Cruz FF. Festivals around the world have started to take an interest in Zen & Zero. Next to a number of screenings as part of regular film festivals (Cologne Conference, Festivals in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Japan and South Africa) the makers of Zen & Zero now look forward to the International Surf Film Festival in beautiful Saint Jean de Luz for which they have been selected recently.
     

"All Aboard the Crazy Train", directed by Jane Kachmer, received the Best Visual Image Award and the Youth Jury Award for the film with Laird Hamilton. On the top of this Laird Mamilton was presented with "la Médaille de la Ville" by Peyuco Duhart, the mayor of St Jean de Luz

François Payot, President of Jury, said "During the last for days with Laird Hamilton, I will not only remember his qualities as a champion of sport, but also his humanity, generosity and willingness to assist others."

"Blackwater" by Tim Bonython won the Best Documentory Award for his magnificent film about the wave of Teahupo’o, in Tahiti. As Tim Bonython was not able to be present, he had sent a personal message of thanks whilst also saying : "I want to dedicate this award to Malik Joyeux who starred in Blackwater. He was a wonderful surfing athlete with a wonderful temperament that will be sadly missed by all."

François Payot took the opportunity of Tim Bonython's film message, to advise the youngest surfers present and tell them: "All the prowess you have seen in the films during the last four days, had been made by practising sports professionals. As Laird Hamilton, explain in his very good film, you must never neglict safety. Never paddle in big waves without preparation, respect the ocean, nature is often stronger than you, even if you practise a lot". Earlier in the week, Oxbow had shown a short film in memory of their rider Malik Joyeux.

Bruno Delaye, organiser, declared he was proud of this 3rd International Surf Film Festival which had developed a lot this year. "For the first time ever, we had to refuse entry to people due to the popularity of a Laird Hamilton film on the Friday night !". This is good news for the "Surfrider Foundation", the "Indo Children Future" and the "Artha Surf Club" who are going to receive a part of the entry fee of the Festival.

Because of the Festival's success this year, we know now the International Surf Film Festival of St Jean de Luz will take place again next May 2007 !
 
 
Peyuco Duhart, Mayor of St de Luz presents "la médaille de la ville" to Laird Hamilton  Zen & Zero movie staff 
   
Jury members Michel Heguedus and JL Poupinel during the Hawaiien Pirogue race  Most Promissing Award went to Medhi for "Blue Sahara "  Bruno Delaye participate in the Pirogue race  Texan James Fullbright, for his film "Miles to Surf", Best Subject Award 
 
The Jury with Roland Calaudi & Bruno Delaye  Roland Calaudi, Laird hamilton, Thierry Daupin (Oxbow) & Gibus de Soultrait 

- 2006 FESTIVAL WINNER LIST -

Best Movie Award : Zen & Zero.

Five young men from Austria take off for a three month surfing trip from California to Costa Rica, with three cameras in their luggage. Their film has turned into a wistful essay about the philosophy of surfing

Youth Jury Award sponsored by "Conseil Général des Pyrénées Altlantique"
and the Best Image Award : All Aboard the Crazy Train.

Known for their big wave filmmaking in Step Into Liquid and Riding Giants, BamMan Productions captures tow-in pionners Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, Darrick Doerner, and others in never before seen footage as they ride the best big waves on the planet at Peahi,Maui during the historic winters of 2004 and 2005. All Aboard The Crazy Train was shot with a mix of 35mm, Super 16mm and HD by legendary cinematographers and watermen Sonny Miller, Don King, Jeff Hornbaker, Dave Homcy and Mike Prickett. Extraordinary images shot by helicopter, and Jet ski!

Best Subject Award : Miles to Surf.

First time director Fulbright highlights alternative surfing sports and traces their roots to desperate surfers who surfing sports and traces their roots to desperates surfers who have invented ways to feed their addiction.

Best Documentary: Blackwater.

This is the story of Teahupo’o: a humble Tahitian village and a coral reef wave made from equal parts beauty and terror. For the first time see and hear it all, the myths, the history, the stories, the facts,  the consequences, and most of all, the unforgettable wave.

Most Promissing Award: Blue Sahara.

Hightlights of new Marroco surfers generation, seeing surf in Marocco, with new local hero Abdel El Harim

Special Jury Award : Fair Bits.

FAIR BITS features the collaborative efforts of 7 filmmakers from a range of different worlds and backgrounds .Fair Bits has it all including chopper footage from six foot super tubes, towing in to a Malaysian wave pool, and a sequence with Taj, Rob Machado and Kelly Slater attempting to ride a door, shovel, snowboard, skis, guitar case and a coffee table.

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