Surfing is fleeting. Waves rise, peel, break, roll and disappear. There’s a did-that-really-happen to each ride, often with no time to answer as the next set of waves come in. Ask any surf photographer or drone operator how hard it is to capture those moments. It’s not easy. Nor is it easy to give what looks like a simple pastime the deep meaning surfers know, see and feel. But filmmakers all over the world try.
Over the past year, the organizers of the Mexico Surf Film Festival (MSFF) reviewed over 100 surf film submissions. They’ve selected 22 for final screenings and judging later this month in Saladita, Troncones and Zihuatanejo.
FESTIVAL ORIGINS
The festival was born in 2024, created by Playa Saladita surfers Jorge Luis Salgado Banda and Patricia Fernández Suárez. Among their friends and family were filmmakers working on surf films and stories about surf communities—films touching on ecology, and the conflicts and camaraderie at surf spots. The pair also own Marejada Surf Spot and El Chilaquil, two popular Playa Saladita restaurants. The combination of having those venues available and having access to a few films led to a larger-than-expected happening in 2024—with 450 people coming to watch nine short films over three nights in three Saladita locations. Last year, the screenings brought 1,200 people to Saladita, Troncones and Ixtapa to see 18 short films, again, over three nights.
Film screening in Saladita 2024. Courtesy of MSFFThis year, Jorge and Patricia plugged into FilmFreeway. a user-friendly platform used by major festivals like Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival that’s become an industry standard for film festival submissions. That led them to draw submissions from more than 30 countries and expanded the festival’s digital reach. It also caused them to define their organizational roles more clearly, with Patricia becoming the MSFF Managing Director and Jorge serving as the Director of Community Liaison and Surf Culture.
In describing the festival’s growth, Patricia says, “Our vision was to create a platform where surf stories could be projected to new audiences. Since we started out, the festival has integrated film, art, music and local gastronomy, offering the people who come to our screenings a special experience that reflects the essence of surfing—its community, its creativity and its deep connection with the natural environment. We had no idea how hungry our coast was for something like this, and we had no idea how fast we’d reach the international filmmaking community.”
Film screening at Partheon Zihuatanejo. Courtesy of MSFF
HOW THE FILMS ARE SELECTED
The festival accepts short films under 15 minutes. They can be documentary, narrative, or experimental. What matters is perspective—films that go beyond the typical highlight-reel maneuvers—films about human connection to the ocean, to community, to culture. Like a film about a surfer aging out of competition but finding renewal in teaching; a portrait of a coastal town negotiating tourism and tradition; a meditation on reef conservation told through a fisherman’s voice. Most of all, the criteria for selection requires that the films be tight, intentional and compelling.
There are several award categories—Best Short Film, Made in Mexico, Ocean’s Message, Audience Choice. The “Made in Mexico” category has a specific aim—to support Mexican filmmakers and encourage more local storytelling.
In describing the selection and judging process, Jorge says, “We knew we would receive more submissions by using FilmFreeway, but never imagined we’d receive so many. We wanted to create a feast for the eyes, the heart and the mind—films that show artistry in the water as well as awaken compassion and concern for the people and places that make surfing such a cultural phenomenon. We are screening 11 films in Saladita and 11 in Troncones, with our judges selecting the ones to be shown the final night in Zihuatanejo. The identity of the judges is kept secret to ensure they remain free of any influence.”
Posters for four of this year's films. Courtesy of MSFF
THREE DAYS OF FILM & FUN
This isn’t a flashy red-carpet show. It’s three separate evenings, each in a different location. Playa Saladita, Troncones and Zihuatanejo. Open-air screenings, where it’s okay to come wet with sand on your feet. The films are grouped in curated blocks—short, varied, paced to keep the audience engaged. A contemplative environmental piece might be followed by a playful beach short. A gritty Pacific portrait might segue into something lyrical and slow. The festival is structured, but not stiff. During the day, there are surf exhibitions, filmmaker talks, and community gatherings. After sunset, people will drift to the screen.
By hosting screenings in the three towns, the festival has become a coastal circuit, with each night being slightly different because each community is slightly different. You’ll likely find local surfers sitting next to visiting filmmakers. Kids running among restaurant owners. Visitors who came curious about one screening coming to the next. It’s community connection, friendly competition and creative excellence that make up the core spirit of the festival—it’s surfing as a living, multi-layered culture.
Red carpet 2024. Courtesy of MSFF
WHY IT MATTERS HERE
Troncones, Majahua, and Saladita are surf towns. That’s obvious. What’s less obvious is how that identity is preserved. Stories fade. Spots change. Generations shift. Film can become a record of what is, and the festival’s mission is ambitious—to position Mexico as a global reference point for surf cinema while promoting conservation and responsible tourism. That sounds grand, pie-in-the-sky, but when you screen films about reef protection, about overdevelopment, about spiritual respect for the ocean—in towns directly affected by those issues—the conversation isn’t abstract. It becomes local. And real.
The festival’s alliance with municipal government leadership and locally-owned businesses signals something else—that surf culture here isn’t “fringe”. That it’s recognized widely as economic and cultural capital. The integration of film, music, art, food, drink and sport reflects a vibrant ecosystem within our unique coastal experience. If you live here year-round, the festival is a chance to see the region through another lens. If you rent here seasonally, it’s a reminder that this coastline holds many stories. If you surf daily, it may reframe what your rituals mean.
The opening of the festival 2024. Courtesy of MSFFPRACTICAL DETAILS
March 27: Playa Saladita, at Queen’s Bar
March 28: Troncones, at Costa Brava
March 29: Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo, at Partheon
Screenings are free to attend. Submissions were also free—a deliberate decision to keep access open for emerging filmmakers. The full schedule will be available via La Onda Troncones on March 23.
FOR INFORMATION
mexicosurffilmfestival@gmail.com
https://www.mexicosurffilmfestival.com