2024 Key Biscayne Film Festival

PACIFIC OCEAN

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UNCLE BULLY’S SURF SCHOOL

HAWAII | Documentary by Leah Warshawski
34 min. (Hawaii International FF 2023)

When a global pandemic decimates the tourism industry across the Hawaiian Islands it means no travel, no tourists, and no surf lessons. Surf instructor Bull Kotter (or “Bully” as he’s lovingly called) suddenly finds his small business pushed to the brink. So he turns to his community – not for help or a handout, but to give back. From surf culture, to ocean respect, to kindness, Uncle Bully is translating etiquette in the line-up into etiquette in life.

Beneath the brash and burly exterior is a heart of pure gold, and grit. Bully grew up on the streets of Lahaina and he knows what it means to “live it tough”. So when he saw other parents suddenly without work and kids without school or structure, he knew exactly what he needed to do. Instead of teaching the hordes of tourists and 1st-timers from the mainland, he turned to the local kids, the “keiki” who have never surfed. Many are “living it really tough”, living outside without a consistent place to sleep at night. “Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool” also provides an intimate (and rarely seen) glimpse into the homeless epidemic on Maui.

Now, in the aftermath of the Maui fires, the feel-good film is a record of the Lahaina that was. The film ends as we see Bully continuing to mentor and nurture Lahaina’s youth despite being homeless himself.

Note: The filmmakers finished this film 6 months before the Lahaina fires burned down the entire town, then went back to add updates and footage from the morning after the fires. See all the updates here: https://www.inflatablefilm.com/bullysurf/

Winner, Audience Award Best Documentary, Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF) Nov 2023

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WANTOKS

WEST PAPUA | Documentary
20 min.

In 2018 the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, hosted the Melanesian Arts & Cultural Festival, celebrating the country’s 40th anniversary of independence. On neighboring island states, the struggle for freedom continues, as West Papua resists Indonesian occupation and the residents of New Caledonia still live under French rule. In all Melanesian countries, residents face the common challenge of climate change, as rising sea levels threaten to swallow both land and tradition. In this charged context, captivating performers are using their talents to celebrate local culture and draw international attention to their islands’ plight, with the hope of spurring international solidarity and prompting collective action against the perils of a warming world.

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A CALL TO GRATITUDE FOR OUR OCEANS

EASTER ISLAND | Documentary
7 min.

Two Rapa Nui girls explore the blessings our oceans bring us and the challenges faced. They seek guidance from their grandmother who shares insights into the mysteries of the ocean and the Rapa Nui culture. Our protagonists share actionable tips for better ocean conservation.

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VEINS OF AN ISLAND

TAHITI | Documentary
10 min.

Teurumereariki Hinano Murphy explains the traditional Polynesian perspective on water: water is life. It rains down into freshwater springs that weave through the island of Mo’orea, French Polynesia, just like blood through our veins, eventually bubbling up from the ground, and flowing onto fringing coral reef ecosystems. This is a natural process–but something is now happening to this water, threatening the health of the reefs and the island residents’ drinking water. “Veins of an Island” follows Dr. Nyssa Silbiger, who is working with her students and Mo’orean residents to better understand why this is happening, and how we can stop it.

SOUTHERN OCEAN

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THE PERFECT SHOT

ANTARCTICA | Documentary
10 min.

“The Perfect Shot” is an inventive and captivating documentary that profiles award-winning fine art photographer Artem Shestakov as he attempts to photograph the most remote locations on the planet affected by the climate crisis.

ATLANTIC OCEAN

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ALL THAT IS SACRED

KEY WEST | Documentary by Scott Ballew
34 min. (Telluride Film Festival 2023)

“The Perfect Shot” is an inventive and captivating documentary that profiles award-winning fine art photographer Artem Shestakov as he attempts to photograph the most remote locations on the planet affected by the climate crisis.

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THE LIFE OF BILL BAGGS

KEY BISCAYNE | Documentary by Patrick Longstreth
27 min. (Miami FF 2023)

With keen intellect and sparkling wit, Bill Baggs seemed to be in the right place at the right time. From bombardier in World War II to news reporter, then accidental diplomat, Baggs used his daily column as a bully pulpit for social justice and wielded his pen like a scalpel to reveal the truth. The Miami News earned three Pulitzer Prizes under his watch, and then in 1969, he left this world suddenly. Author Amy Paige Condon retraces his steps in the process of writing the first biography of this influential newspaper editor.

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SILENT INVASION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

GREECE | Documentary by Anne Weigel and Philip Reinhold
11 min.

This compelling documentary highlights the threat posed by new invasive species to the Mediterranean ecosystem. The directors showcase the disruption these invaders are causing, endangering native species and biodiversity. Through beautiful imagery and interviews, the film explores potential solutions.

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MURINA

CROATIA | Fiction film by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
93 min. (Cannes Film Festival 2022)

Tensions rise between restless teenager Julija and her oppressive father Ante when an old family friend arrives at their Croatian island home. As Ante attempts to broker a life- changing deal, their tranquil yet isolated existence leaves Julija wanting more from this influential visitor, who provides a taste of liberation over a weekend laid bare to desire and violence.

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SEA OF TIME

NETHERLANDS | Fiction by Theu Boermans
110 min.

Lucas and Johanna live in the 80s, madly in love, in a world full of dreams and ideals. Then a disastrous accident, during their sailing trip on the Atlantic, separates them. Thirty-five years later, in the autumn of their lives, the two of them meet again and their deep-rooted love is still very strong.

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HOW TO GROW AN ISLAND

TURKS & CAICOS (Ambergris Key) | Documentary by Ryan W. Vachon
20 min.

Geology moves slowly – at least that is what some of us learned in school. But this is not always the case. A diverse team of scientists, led by Dr. Lizzy Trower, University of Colorado Boulder geologist, try to solve the mystery behind how a Caribbean island is growing out of the ocean, beating out modern sea level rise. While this is a story of scientific discovery, it is a reminder that all big efforts, few as outstanding as climate change, will require people coming together with our differences – different perspectives, needs and solutions.

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FIGHT FOR FLIGHT: BIRDS OF CABO VERDE

CABO VERDE | Documentary by Madalena Boto
45 min.

500 years ago, Cabo Verde was a paradise for seabirds. Today, the eight species that nest on the rocky slopes of these tropical islands face major challenges. From high mountains to remote and deserted islets, we follow Cape Verdean conservation teams on the ground to study and preserve the archipelago’s seabird colonies. Commissioned by Cape Verdean environmental organisations Projecto Vitó and Biosfera.

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FLORIDA CAVIAR

FLORIDA | Documentary by Sarah Curry
15 min.

Meet three generations of women growing sturgeon in a unique farm in Pierson, Florida. They’re harvesting the sturgeon for Florida caviar. About Sereia Films: Our oceans are running out of fish, and we need to make smarter seafood choices to ensure there are fish in the ocean for future generations. Fish can be a sustainable and healthy source of protein, and it’s time we welcome both wild and farmed seafood on our dinner plates. Sereia Films creates educational content and hosts educational community events. In 2019, Sereia Films reached more than 52,000 people through our social media efforts and in-person events.

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MÚSICA!

CUBA | Documentary by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
72 min. (Telluride FF 2023)

The Amadeo Roldan Conservatory has long been the Cuba’s most prestigious music school but the conservatory struggles to maintain instruments for their students. Enter Horns for Havana, a New York-based initiative that brings parts and instrument-repair expertise to the island. This film follows four young Cubans “who view music as a way of life,” premieres at the festival today.

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SAVE THE BAY

BISCAYNE BAY | Documentary by Ramiro Carranza
4 min.

Biscayne Bay is experiencing deadly changes that are suffocating all living things in the water and leading to catastrophic changes in the ecosystem. Despite the situation, there are a few people in South Florida leading a wave of change.

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FONTAINE

MIAMI | Fiction short by Manuel Camilion
30 min.

The lives of a drifter, a raver, and a heartbroken bachelor intertwine as they seek to reclaim their youth and find redemption in the neon haze of Miami.

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THE CRITIC

MIAMI | Fiction by Frank Kelly
24 min.

The Critic’ is a romantic thriller that tells the story of Meghan Dupane (Julia Collier), a reserved and cosmopolitan hotel critic who travels the globe reviewing luxury hotels incognito. That is until her next assignment changes everything.

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DYING TO DIRECT

MIAMI | Fiction
26 min.

A sardonic film director invites an old friend to visit him on his deathbed with specific instructions not to get involved with the director’s girlfriend after his demise. But does he mean that or the opposite? This is an end-of-life chess game with unique, unpredictable psychological dimensions that attempts to address the only questions that matter.

INDIAN & ARCTIC OCEANS

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ONDE NOSTRE: DEEP ISLANDS

INDIAN OCEAN | Documentary by Luca Merli
4 min.

Onde Nostre is a lifestyle documentary film that shows the peculiarity of the Italian surf scene and the beauty of this sport, even in a country that’s not usually considered a top destination for catching waves. This film is intended to show the passion of high level surfers.

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ISLENSKU

ICELAND | Documentary by Sam Moody & Yentl Touboul
15 min.

A delve into the surf culture island of Iceland and the people that define it. The constant pursuit of swell, favourable winds. The chase of inlets, of shelter and exposed spots. The sun, snow, driving rain and fog. Driving over snowy passes to score. Driving through the night to get skunked.

Sleeping on boats, on floors and seeing the northern lights from the nightclubs of Reykjavik. Broken Land Crusiers. Broken ankles. Coffins ripped off roofs from the wind. Wondering if we’ve upset the elves, trolls and other elemental beings and being assured from the powers that be that we haven’t.

Scouring the island for waves and marvelling at the natural beauty of it all. Wondering how such things come to be and how the culture is carried. Coming to the conclusion that despite all the complications, the answer is simple. It’s the People.

PANELISTS

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Spotlight on Youth

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TIME
by Rodrigo Gana

WINTERFEST
by Alvise Mohorovic

STARBUCKS ONCE A WEEK
by Jazmin Campiani

BECOMING DJ LUKINSKI
by Lucas Zapata

A VISIT TO THE PAST
by Eugenio Guerini

HASTA QUE NOS VOLVAMOS A ENCONTRAR
by Paula De La Rosa

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
by Nicholas De La Rosa

LULU
by Chiara Bergonzi

SUN DAYS ON KEY BISCAYNE
by Valentina Felpeto

OLA
by Clara Gil

TAKEOUT
by Sasha Estefan Coppola

ISLAND ANGELS
by Luciana Felpeto