Patricia Fernández Suárez: Mexico Surf Film Festival Director

LOT: How did you discover Saladita?

Patricia: I got to know Saladita 15 years ago through some friends who invited me for a weekend. I fell in love with Saladita and it became my weekend destination. I went back and forth from Uruapan, until I decided I needed to surf and moved here in 2019.

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LOT: What’s kept you here?

Patricia: The surfing, the calm, the love and this entire community. It’s a paradise.

LOT: How did the idea for the film festival come along?

Patricia: The festival was born from an idea Jorge, my husband, had. He’s been surfing here for 20 years, and he wanted to make an event in Saladita where we would invite different surfer friends and filmmakers who live along the Pacific coast to show their short films. We started with 8 short films from 8 different directors.

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LOT: What surprised you about your first screenings?

Patricia: I was amazed by the creativity and passion projected on the screen—epic waves and incredible landscapes. And by the interest and excitement expressed by the entire community while they were watching the films. Those were nights of great emotion!

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LOT: What made you want to do the second year? And why in three different places?

Patricia: What moved me to do the 2nd edition was precisely to feel so much emotion. I realized the filmmaker and surfer on the screen create a connection with the audience by transmitting their passions for what it means to surf, to live a life centered on the ocean. We took the screenings to 3 places because we talked about the project to restaurateur Toño Meneses who opened the door for us to extend it to Zihuatanejo. For us surfing has no borders—it is the same ocean—and why not project this art along the Pacific? We believe that this festival can be taken anywhere in Mexico to highlight our wonderful local destinations, especially our Riviera Troncones–Saladita.

LOT: What are you looking forward to this year?

Patricia: To see the festival carry the same emotion as always, just like the first year! We know that the festival has become more structured each year, but what does not change is our passion for surfing and our joy in being able to share it with the world.

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LOT: What’s been the most satisfying thing about watching all these surf movies?

Patricia: It’s to know each story and the messages that are in them—to feel and identify what’s in common—the love for the sea. 🧡

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LOT: What’s next for you after the festival? Personally.

Patricia: I’m going to surf every day, hahaha, It’s been a long time that we've been working on this edition—so many months.

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LOT: Have you already started thinking about next year?

Patricia: Yes, of course, I already have notes of what can be improved and encouraged for the 2027 edition.

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SCHEDULE

March 25

6 PM Preview Night

Marea, Playa La Saladita

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March 26

10:30 AM IceBreaker/RompeHielo

Samas, Playa La Saladita

6 PM Opening ceremony + film screening

Queen’s Bar, Playa La Saladita

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March 27

10:30 AM Children’s Workshop

by Nur Slim

Little Rays of Light, Playa La Saladita

12 PM Cinematographer Talk

with Christopher Bedolla

Acadia, Playa La Saladita

6 PM Feast + film screening

Costa Brava, Troncones

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March 28

8 AM Massive Surf Class

Playa La Madera, Zihuatanejo

10 AM Children’s Workshop

by Nur Slim

Casa de la Cultura, Zihuatanejo

6 PM Awards Ceremony

Partenón, Zihuatanejo

9:30 PM Last Waves

Bar Malagua, Zihuatanejo

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INFORMATION

https://www.mexicosurffilmfestival.com

aloha@mexicosurffilmfestival.com

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