5 days of international cinema, surfing, culture and commitment to sustainability

9th Edition of the Laboral Kutxa Bilbao Surf Film Festival From February 28th to March 3rd in Bilbao and Getxo

The 9th Edition of the LABORAL Kutxa Bilbao Surf Film Festival, presented this morning at the headquarters of EITB in Bilbao, will take place between February 28 and March 3. An edition that, in these 5 days, expects to welcome in its venues of Muxikebarri in Getxo and Itsasmuseum in Bilbao, about 3,000 people, between public and participants.

Bilbao, February 26, 2024

With its trajectory, even overcoming the difficulties of the pandemic, the Festival has established itself as one of the 3 most important in Europe along with the Portuguese Surf Film Festival and the International Surf Film Festival of Anglet (France).

Moreover, the fact that it is the first international festival to be held in the calendar year, makes it a reference of trends for the rest of the festivals and for the creators of audiovisual content related to surfing.

Thus, LKBSFF will bring together professionals, athletes and the general public in a tourism tractor meeting for Bizkaia and Euskadi through the culture of surfing and sliding sports. A Festival that promotes a sustainable, egalitarian and inclusive society; diversifying the offer to connect with people through music, gastronomy, local products and activities for all audiences.

Quality international films, premieres and premieres

A total of 60 films will be screened in 2024, 50 short films and 10 feature films, selected from among 150 candidates that respond to the 3 premises set by the Festival: respect for the subject matter, technical and narrative quality and topicality.

The films come from 20 different countries, including: Brazil (8), Australia (6), France (6), Basque Country (6) or the United States and Portugal (5).

Almost 70% of the films to be screened will be world premieres, while others are still current because they were awarded in the last festivals of 2023 and are in the process of distribution and exhibition.

Some of the films can be seen through the Filmin platform and several days and activities of the program can be followed via streaming.

The themes of the films and their protagonists

In addition to stories with the sea and surfing as protagonists, this year’s edition features productions with a strong character of social, natural and human vindication. The creators also address issues such as: the realities of life in places different from the usual surf films: Ghana, Mozambique or Lebanon; the empowerment of women, mental health or adventures in “impossible” places.

Some of the creators and stars of surfing that we will be able to see in the screenings are: the American Conner Coffin or the German champion Camilla Kemp.

They will be present, among others: Naoko Hara the director of MAHOROBA, Anita Mourany the Lebanese director of THE MARBLE, Martim Van der Waal director of ALL THE WAY, Joao Salgado, the director of the Portuguese film WETSUIT, FAMILIA GARCIA, father and two sons, the protagonists of the film of the same name, Paul Lavoine, director of BOUND BY THE OCEAN, Thomas Lecercle, director of THE OCEAN HEALS, Matt Etxebarne, star of IPAR or Nicolas Diaz, director of PAGON.

Naturally, there will be space to enjoy the latest works of local creators such as Jon Aspuru, who will present MUNDAKA, THE LEGENDARY DAY and SPICY KNIVES; or Igor Bellido, who on the opening day will premiere his work ZUKU.

Another novelty of this edition is that the prizes to be awarded in the various categories are designed and made with the recycling of plastic waste collected since November, in containers scattered along the beaches of Getxo.

Activities open to all audiences

The participation of the public will be very important in the different areas of the Festival. In this sense, there will be parallel activities such as: exhibitions, contests, competitions, talks, conferences, exhibitions, concerts in the street, matinees for schools and workshops for children and families. The day on sustainability: “Dismantling sustainability” and a special session with skateboarding as the protagonist.

There will be a Surf Market on the Itsasmuseum esplanade, workshops for the whole family, skateboarding exhibitions, electric boat rides along the estuary, talks by Javier Amézaga about his professional career, Virtual Reality sessions to experience big wave surfing with Xabi López and a special space where the Euskadi Gaztea radio station will conduct interviews.

One of the most special moments will be the march along the estuary in favor of inclusive sport and surfing that will take place on Saturday morning, the 2nd, from the Guggenheim to the Itsasmuseum.

Throughout the 5 days we will also be able to enjoy the presence of: Mireia Cabañes (world runner-up in adapted surfing teams), FEKOOR (Coordinating Federation of People with Physical and/or Organic Disabilities of Bizkaia), Fundación Deporte sin Barreras, Javier Amézaga, (former director of 360 Magazine and outgoing organizer of the Punta Galea Challenge, chronicler of the last 40 years of surfing), Job Veerporte (Jabali Surfboards, builder of sustainable boards), Tony Butt (oceanographer and big wave surfer), Idoia Quintanilla Pérez (Director of the Tax Doctrine dept. of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia), Alex Gibelade Arrizabalaga (responsible for the PRIMERAN platform – EITB), Bitor Garitaonaindia (European Junior surf champion and with 68K Followers on instagram), Arturo Olea (Director of Music Library & SFX), Maria Aizpuru (CEO & Founder Aloka App) and Javier Labad Cortadi (pioneers of skateboarding in Euskadi).

Dates to keep in mind:

February 28: Inauguration at 19:00 in Muxikebarri (Getxo)
March 1st: Opening of the Surf Market and parallel activities open to the public; at 17:00 in the esplanade of the Itsasmuseum (Bilbao)
March 2nd:Solidarity walk along the estuary in favor of inclusive sport and surfing; at 09:30 from the Guggenheim to the Itsasmuseum (Bilbao)
March 2nd: Awards ceremony and closing ceremony at 21:00 at Itsasmuseum (Bilbao)
March 3: End of activities for the public, in the morning, at Itsasmuseum (Bilbao)

All the information about the Festival is available at bsff.eus
To manage content, interviews or receive material, you can contact us at press@bilbaosurffilmfestival.eus