The Endless Summer Producer Robert Bagley (on the left) joined Endless Summer II Co-Stars Robert “Wingnut” Weaver (center) and Pat O’Connell (right) to have a little fun reenacting Bruce Brown’s iconic photo in the spot it was taken at Salt Creek Beach in 1963.
Photo credit: Alex Mecl/Bruce Brown Films LLC
May 8, 2023 (Dana Point, Calif.)– From Thursday through Sunday, the Dana Point Film Festival brought the community together to celebrate marine life, surfing and people’s relationship with the ocean. More than one thousand festival attendees gathered for the high point of the four-day festival at The Endless Summer 60th Anniversary event at Salt Creek Beach Park on Friday evening. From the most watched documentary of all time to award-winning films and panels with industry leaders, the Dana Point Film Festival brought this beach community together with support from the city, county and businesses.
With a beautiful sunset on the Pacific Ocean and surfers riding waves in the background, the setting for the 60th Anniversary Celebration of The Endless Summer was ideal
Photo credit: Alex Mecl/Bruce Brown Films LLC
“I was extremely fortunate to experience a childhood in Dana Point filled with surfing, sailing Hobie Cats and diving. As a Dana Hills High School graduate, it was so cool to see the school’s Porthole Theater packed on Saturday and Sunday evening with Dana Point Film Festival goers,” said Lloyd Bryan Molander, founder of the DPFF. “Film festivals have a way to unite a community and bring attention to missions that truly count. We love and cherish our Pacific Ocean and our neighboring whales and dolphins. The tight, fun-loving, ocean-minded coastal community really came together over the course of the first annual Dana Point Film Festival. We couldn’t have done this without them.”
The Dana Point Film Festival screened an extensive lineup of 40 hours of documentary films including award-winners from domestic and international film makers. It also gave young student filmmakers a chance to tell their stories through the DPFF Student Film Competition. The festival’s winners will be announced soon.
Left to right: Richard Yelland, Dick Metz and Lloyd Bryan Molander
On Sunday, Director Richard Yelland and Dick Metz were both in attendance for the “Birth of Endless Summer” film. This documentary follows Dick as he vagabonds the globe from 1958-1961-revealing the untold story behind one of the most watched and beloved documentaries of all time, “The Endless Summer.”
The DPFF’s panels featured Surf Media Executive Norb Garrett, Former Pro Surfer, Surfer Magazine Editor Chris Mauro and Former Surfing magazine Publisher Bob Mignogna and more.
Artist Whitestone created original works of art that glow in the dark all night, which were auctioned off with all proceeds donated to the Dana Point Film Festival.
For more information on DPFF, visit the festival online at danapointfilmfestival.org.
Sponsors and Supporters
DPFF has the support of Bruce Brown Films, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Doheny Beach, Guaranteed Rate, Tenacity Entertainment, Dana Point Times, Eterno Verano Tequila, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Endless Summer Hard Seltzer, Origin Sparkling Water, Purps Energy Drink, Nomadix, Dana Point Times, Killer Dana Surf Shop, and Orange County Supervisor Fifth District Katrina Foley. Nonprofit partners and beneficiaries include Monarch Beach Rotary, Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, Dana Point Entertainment and Arts Council, and SurfAid.
About Dana Point Film Festival:
The Dana Point Film Festival (DPFF) is an oceans film festival that focuses on the preservation
and conservation of marine life. The films showcased at DPFF highlight the
festival’s key focus on marine life and our relationship for this magnificent wonder. DPFF celebrates primarily documentary filmmaking that features education, conservation, preservation, and recreation (ocean adventure films). DPFF is a nonprofit subsidiary of DPE&AC, 501(c)(3) organization. Oceans and Surf Documentary Filmmaker, Lloyd Bryan Molander is the founder of DPFF and managing director. Todd Wallin is the co-founder and executive director of the DPFF, as well as the founder of the Dana Point Entertainment and Art Council.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Master Plan Communications, Inc.
Debs Loomis
714.310.9651
or
Brenda Koopsen
760.845.5499