Taylor Steele's Surf Film Festival is Coming to Florida

After three years and nearly 2,300 miles from its inception, Taylor Steele’s wildly popular Solento Surf Festival is coming to the East Coast for the first time. Specifically, the movies will be playing at the Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale this Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23. Click here to buy tickets. 

"We know there is a strong surf community in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas, but it often gets overlooked in the surf industry," Steele told the Miami New Times. "We really wanted to bring the SSF somewhere that it would add value."

In addition to premiering some of the biggest surf flicks and highlighting would-be hidden gems (see: Facing Monsters, Gravity, Trilogy: New Wave), a key aspect of the event is the candid interview and panels headed by Steele. It’s sure to be a great time and a great way to support surf filmmaking. Here’s the full slate of films straight from the schedule:

Friday, November 22

North Stars: A 42-minute surf film & portrait of Adrien Toyon by Yentl Touboul. At the crossroads of a surf film and a visual portrait, the film depicts Adrien through the eyes of some of his closest friends and those of the board makers who’ve inspired his dive into alternative designs. 

Filmed around the world between 2022 and 2024, from Adrien’s home Island of Reunion to Australia, Biarritz and the cliffs of Western Ireland. Also featuring Mikey February, Kobe Hughes, Andrew Kidman, Shane Sykes, Koldo Illumbe, Tom Morat, Lee-Ann Curren, Peta, Hanna Scott, Micky Clarke and more.

Let Me Live: Directed by Keith Malloy, starring Tom Lowe. As a surfing outsider, British big wave surfer Tom Lowe paves his own path to surfing’s highest level through pure grit, determination, and a little help from his friends. Cutting his teeth in Ireland and pioneering unknown waves with a small group of surfers, Tom found meaning in pushing himself to the limit.

Live conversation and retrospective with World Champion Lisa Andersen. 

Granny Grommets: Directed by Leah Rustomjee. The Granny Grommets, a nearly 90-strong group of women, come from all walks of life and with all the life experiences that an older person brings with them, to bodyboard every Friday morning at Middleton beach in Albany in Western Australia. United by their love of the ocean, the group serves as much more than simply a weekly exercise class, for some it’s an escape from caring responsibilities and others a place to feel a sense of identity. This film ultimately reflects on the healing and transformative power community and friendship provide for us later in life.

Saturday, November 23

NO WAY: A film by Harrison Roach. In Norway’s Varanger Fjord, on the northernmost coastline of continental Europe, the Barents Sea fluctuates between mystic calm, ferocious instability, and fleeting windows of harmony. Rumors are, in those windows lie the sublime dream of every surfer: perfection. NØ_WAY follows a mixed group as they chase that dream and ponder their motivations. Experience the highs and lows of surf exploration in the 21st century with this raw and off-the-cuff look at the Arctic. NØ_WAY – the antithesis to The Endless Summer.

HUCK: Screening and panel conversation with Ryan Huckabee of his latest edit HUCK.

BEYOND NORMAL: In the world of professional surfing, Becca Speak is known for her relentless pursuit of waves in the far corners of the globe. To her, the sport is both the source of her greatest joy and the catalyst for her most profound struggles. Throughout her life and career, Becca has suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including a recent one that left her temporarily speechless. TBIs are complex and difficult to recover from. They require their victims to stop doing the things they love, leading to feelings of isolation and other mental health issues. 

Yet, Becca refuses to surrender her livelihood to the unforgiving sea. She embarks on an arduous recovery journey, determined to unlock what she calls her “Beyond Normal,” an elusive state that represents a pinnacle of mental and physical well-being she has yet to attain. Becca’s rehabilitation path is marked by setbacks and frustration, but her unwavering resolve drives her to reclaim her identity and her mind, no matter how treacherous the tides may be.

Horse: A surf film by James Kates. Starring Noa Deane in a striking vignette of travel and shelf discovery.  Appearances from Tom Gillespie & Makoa Gomez. Original score by Russell W.