Since filmmaker Leah Warshawski began working on the short film Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool, she says she dreamed of connecting with people who are passionate about ocean conservation.
Warshawski became passionate about whales, dolphins and ocean conservation while living and working in Hawaii when she was younger.
“That’s always been a passion of mine,” Warshawski said. “I never thought we would make a film about surfing, even though that would be the dream, of course. For me, any chance I have to be near the water or on the water is always such a healing experience.”
After taking a surf lesson from instructor Bull "Bully" Kotter early into the COVID pandemic and learning that Kotter offers a free surf camp for kids where he engages local homeless kids, Warshawski was inspired to share his story.
“That idea, someone who was doing that kind of work, piqued our interest, because it wasn’t just a surf instructor teaching surf lessons to tourists, but also folding in some of the local kids,” Warshawski said.
“A lot of people don’t know that we have a homeless population in Hawaii or on Maui – especially now after the fires, it’s even worse – but when we started filming during COVID, we thought that was our worst problem,” Warshawski continued. “Then in August, everything changed, and so did our film.”
Though filming of Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool wrapped up in February of last year, the filmmakers picked up the cameras again after the devastating wildfire that burned through the Western Maui town of Lahaina, killed more than 100 people and destroyed more than 2,700 structures.
“We wanted to see how Bully was going to respond, and it’s a really powerful part,” Warshawski said. “I can’t imagine the film without that. I think it’s a better film, even though it’s unfortunate and tragic what happened; I think it shows the resilience that Bully has and what’s possible in the future and where he’s going.”
“We need that, we need role models and mentors and examples of how to be resilient,” Warshawski said.
Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool is one of over 50 short and feature films to be screened in Dana Point, the trademarked Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World, connecting the coastal community with surf and ocean conservation films.
Returning for its second year, the Endless Summer Dana Point Film Festival will hold screenings at Salt Creek Beach, the OC Sailing and Events Center, and the Dana Point Women’s Club from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5, as it looks to celebrate ocean conservation and surf culture.
This year, the Dana Point Film Festival touts new partnerships and events.
When the film festival launched last year, it hosted one free evening event at Salt Creek Beach Park, where it screened The Endless Summer in celebration of the film’s 60th anniversary. This year, the festival will host three nights of free entertainment at the park, according to Lloyd Bryan Molander, founder and festival executive director of the “Endless Summer + Dana Point Film Festival.”
“We’re kicking off the first one on Friday night with Volcom,” Molander said. “It’s going to be a night of music, film and classic Volcom-driven entertainment.”
The event will feature a set with DJ and World Surf League announcer Chris Cote, followed by a performance by Cote’s band, Sun Bender, Molander said. The festival will screen Volcom’s short film Munch and feature film Psychic Migrations during the free Friday night event.
Ryan Thomas, director of Psychic Migrations, developed a love of nature as he grew up surfing and fishing, he said, which is reflected in his films. Thomas has worked as a filmmaker with Volcom since graduating from the Art Center College of Design in 2001.
Though many of his films are inspired by nature, Thomas explained that Psychic Migrations aims to share his love of surfing with viewers.
“After watching Psychic Migrations, I hope a portion of the viewers have a reaction of, ‘Yes, that’s it, that’s how I feel about surf and nature too,’ ” Thomas said in an email. “And I also hope to turn some viewers onto that feeling.”
Thomas added that he feels “grateful to participate in an ocean-centric film festival like the Dana Point Film Festival as an opportunity to share the love of the ocean with the community.”
Saturday night of the festival will feature a retro-night featuring a performance by the band Common Sense, Molander said
After Common Sense performs, the festival will screen Step Into Liquid, a Dana Brown film.
The final night of the festival will be geared toward family entertainment, featuring hula dancers, hula lessons, traditional Hawaiian music and a screening of the Disney film Moana.
“That’s new that we have three nights,” Molander said. “It’s ambitious, but it’s what the community wanted. This is a community festival driven by what the community has provided us as feedback, and we’re excited to kick that off.”
The festival organizers seek to engage a variety of interests by offering something for everyone, Molander explained.
“With a film festival, you compete against yourself, because you have all these different screens that you're putting filmed entertainment on or panels,” Molander said. “So, what we’ve tried to do is if there’s a family night, then we run at other venues something that wouldn’t compete with that demographically so that there’s always something for everybody to watch.”
“We tried to really mix it up to where people can thematically decide what they want to watch,” Molander continued. “But also experientially, we like to ‘eventify’ each event where you have more than one static thing like a film, so we bring in other entertainment elements, art and culture to make it more rounded.”
Those interested in meeting the filmmakers can attend the VIP opening-night party on Thursday, May 2, at Station Craft Brewery.
Molander noted that he hopes festivalgoers come away from the event feeling more informed, while also having fun.
“We want them to have fun and learn about how wonderful the ocean is and how it just sits out there and provides us so much joy,” Molander said. “How do we pay homage to that is by celebrating it through film and entertainment.”
Warshawski added that “it feels really good” to be participating in an ocean-centric event such as the Dana Point Film Festival.
“Surfers, former surfers, future surfers, people who live near the ocean have a certain kind of culture and attitude and way of life and respect for the ocean, and those are our people,” Warshawski said.
Through Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool, Warshawski looks to inspire viewers to become mentors in their own community.
“Bully always says, ‘Just by showing up is how you make a difference,’ and we want to inspire people to show up for each other,” Warshawski said. “And we want people to keep Lahaina in their hearts and minds, and we know that the film is a tool for that.”
Warshawski added that the filmmakers have launched an impact campaign and hope that the film will inspire viewers to donate to the campaign.
During the festival, Warshawski will discuss distribution, film festivals and engagement strategies, as well as the importance of impact producing to bring awareness to her film projects.
“Our goal is to reach as many communities as we can all over the country and do screening and community impact events everywhere we go,” Warshawski said.