Jack Johnson Leads Star-Studded Lineup at Coast Film and Music Festival

November 4: Hobie Night

Because surf shops are our temples of stoke, get the party started right at the Hobie shop in Laguna. Teaming up with the Florence crew, this is a special evening that celebrates 75 years of Hobie Surfboards. From the early explorations in foam and fiberglass with Hobie Alter and Grubby Clark to the latest and greatest crew of surfers and craftspeople keeping the vibes alive today, if surf history and culture is what you seek, this evening is for you.

November 6: The Coast Summit

The Coast Summit is a full day of panels and conversations that range from environmental stewardship, sustainability, natural healing, and so much more. Think of it as the festival’s think tank — a gathering of filmmakers, surfers, scientists, and storytellers tackling what’s next for the ocean. From coastal resilience to ocean storytelling and surf innovation, the Summit connects the creative and the practical — showing how the surf world’s best ideas often start with community, not competition.

“It’s where the conversations begin,” says festival director Ben Warner. “Before the lights, the music, and the films — it’s about the people doing the work.”

November 8-9: The Do Good Village

If the Summit is the brain, the Do Good Village is the heart. Running all weekend at the Festival of Arts, this open-air hub hosts hands-on workshops, sustainability activations, and community demos from local partners. You’ll find art installations, shapers’ talks, and eco gear repair stations — all designed to show that ocean advocacy doesn’t have to feel like a lecture. It can look, sound, and feel like the community it serves.

November 8: Ocean + Surf Saturday

Saturday night brings Ocean + Surf Saturday, the crown jewel for surfers and film lovers alike. The evening begins with the Follow the Light Photography Awards, honoring young photographers carrying on Larry “Flame” Moore’s legacy.

From there, the screens roll into a full ocean program: "Feels Like Yesterday," "First In, Last Out," "Thicker Than Water", and "Snakes and Surf Breaks." The latter two screen in sync with Johnson’s performance, echoing his early surf-film roots with The Moonshine Conspiracy.

Between screenings, Iris and The Shade will be laying down the tunes, while an impressive guest roster, including Keith Malloy, Griffin Colapinto and Christa Funk, keeps the conversation lively.

"It’s a full-circle moment,” says filmmaker Chris Malloy. “From making those early surf films with Jack to seeing a new generation take it further — it shows the culture still has depth.”

November 9: Ocean + Surf Sunday

Sunday keeps the momentum going with Ocean + Surf Sunday, a back-to-back lineup featuring "Milk + Honey," "Pipeline," and the cult classic "September Sessions."

Rob Machado and Kelly Slater will appear in person to discuss "Milk + Honey"and "Pipeline," while "September Sessions" — directed by Johnson and filmed during Slater’s Championship Tour sabbatical — screens as a timeless reminder of surf cinema’s soulful core.

A Broader Coastline

Beyond the surf focus, Coast Film and Music Festival 2025 features more than 100 films spanning outdoor adventure, environmental storytelling, and ocean exploration. The curation mirrors the waves themselves — diverse, dynamic, and always moving toward something deeper.

Laguna Beach becomes the festival’s living backdrop: art galleries open late, cafés spill over with filmmakers, and conversations stretch from tide pools to rooftops. What began as a small-town experiment now draws a global audience, while never losing sight of its purpose and mission.

Whether you’re attending the Do Good Village, sitting in on the Coast Summit, or watching "Thicker Than Water" under the stars while Johnson plays "Bubbly Toes," the through-line is clear: this is what ocean culture looks like when it’s built from love, not hype.

The Coast Film and Music Festival has evolved into more than a series of screenings — it’s a gathering that mirrors the best parts of surf life itself: creative, communal, and constantly in motion.

“The ocean connects everything we do,” says Warner. “That’s the real headline.”