Overview
The Portuguese Surf Film Festival (PSFF) is the longest-running dedicated surf film festival in the world. Founded in 2012, the festival is held annually in Ericeira, Portugal - one of only a handful of World Surfing Reserves globally. The 15th edition runs July 17 to 31, 2026, under the theme "15 Years - 15 Days," screening more than 30 international films exploring surfing in all its dimensions. The festival program is presented at the Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva, with additional free screenings on Ericeira's beaches and at the Palacio dos Marqueses in Mafra.
Tickets start at EUR 5 per screening. A special festival premiere event takes place July 11, 2026, at the Hurley Surf Club in Ericeira, featuring the official program presentation, festival catalogue distribution, and a DJ set. The 2026 official selection includes "SurFilMusic" (2026) by Emmett Malley, exploring Jack Johnson's journey from surfer to filmmaker to musician, and "On the Wave" (2025) by Axel Gerdau and Peter Wolf, following Sebastian Steudtner, the current world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed.
The festival is organized by Mind Act and produced by Zucalli Media, with design by Elisabete Ornelas. It is sponsored by the Municipality of Mafra and supported by the Ericeira Parish Council and the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve. Media partners include Fuel TV and AZUL Ericeira Mag. Submissions are accepted through the official PSFF website.
Submission Details
Submissions for the Portuguese Surf Film Festival are accepted through the official festival website. Key details:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Submission Platform | Official PSFF website |
| Typical Deadline | May (check website for current year) |
| Festival Dates | July 17 to 31, 2026 |
| Premiere Event | July 11, 2026 |
| Ticket Price | From EUR 5 |
| Eligibility | Films not already available online |
| Categories | Documentary, short, feature, animated, experimental |
Films that are already publicly available online are not eligible for submission. The festival accepts surf documentaries, both short and feature-length, as well as animated and experimental films related to surf culture. Submissions are open to filmmakers worldwide. The festival typically curates 30+ films from international submissions.
For the most current submission deadlines and fees, visit the official PSFF website or check the Boardriding events page for festival updates.
Festival Program and Screenings
Main Venue Screenings
The core festival program runs at the Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva in Ericeira. Screenings include filmmaker Q&A sessions, with approximately 10 filmmakers expected to attend the 2026 edition. Each selected film receives two festival screenings. The 2026 highlights include:
- "SurFilMusic" (2026) - directed by Emmett Malley, exploring Jack Johnson's journey from surfer to filmmaker to internationally acclaimed musician. Screens July 22 and 30.
- "On the Wave" (2025) - directed by Axel Gerdau and Peter Wolf, following Sebastian Steudtner, current world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed. Screens July 23 and 28.
Free Beach Screenings
The festival includes three free outdoor screenings:
- Praia dos Pescadores, Ericeira - July 18, 2026
- Ribeira d'Ilhas, Ericeira - July 26, 2026
- Palacio dos Marqueses, Mafra - July 31, 2026 (closing day)
Ocean Art Exhibition
The festival includes an Ocean Art exhibition at the Galeria Orlando Morais, housed in the Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva. The 2026 exhibition opens July 17 and runs through July 26. Admission is free.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Ericeira as a Surf Film Destination
Ericeira is a designated World Surfing Reserve - one of approximately a dozen worldwide and the first in Europe. The town is a 45-minute drive from Lisbon and has a year-round surf culture with consistent waves at breaks like Ribeira d'Ilhas, Coxos, and Praia dos Pescadores. This makes PSFF the only major surf film festival held in a World Surfing Reserve, giving it direct access to the community most invested in surf cinema.
No Online Availability Rule
PSFF does not accept films that are already publicly available online, including on YouTube, Vimeo, or other streaming platforms. This is a stricter eligibility rule than many general documentary festivals. Filmmakers should plan their online release strategy accordingly - if you want to screen at PSFF, hold the online premiere until after the festival.
Filmmaker Attendance and Q&A
The festival brings approximately 10 filmmakers to Ericeira each year for in-person Q&A sessions. The festival does not appear to publish a formal travel stipend policy, so filmmakers should budget for their own travel and accommodation. Ericeira has a range of accommodation from surf hostels to boutique hotels, with peak season rates in July.
Multi-Screening Exposure
Each selected film receives two screenings at the Casa de Cultura, plus potential inclusion in the free beach screenings. The dual-screening format gives filmmakers two opportunities for audience engagement and Q&A. The beach screenings draw large crowds and offer a unique screening environment - projecting surf films on the beach where the sport happens is a distinctive experience that general film festivals cannot replicate.
Festival Partners and Industry Presence
PSFF is sponsored by the Municipality of Mafra and partnered with the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, Hurley Ericeira, and Fuel TV. The festival's media partners include AZUL Ericeira Mag. While PSFF does not host a formal film market, the concentration of surf industry brands, media, and filmmakers creates informal networking opportunities. Filmmakers seeking distribution in the surf and action sports market should connect with Fuel TV representatives and other industry attendees during the festival.
Festival History
The Portuguese Surf Film Festival was founded in 2012 in Ericeira, Portugal. The festival was created to bring surf cinema to the Ericeira community and to provide a dedicated platform for surf filmmaking, which occupies a niche between action sports content and nature documentary.
Over 15 editions, the festival has grown from a local event into an international surf cinema destination. The 2026 edition marks the festival's 15th anniversary with an expanded 15-day format under the theme "15 Years - 15 Days," the longest edition in the festival's history. The festival has screened films from surf filmmakers worldwide, covering topics from big wave surfing to surf travel, environmental conservation, and surf culture history.
The festival is organized by Mind Act and produced by Zucalli Media. It has maintained its base in Ericeira throughout its history, with the Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva as its primary venue. The addition of free beach screenings and the Ocean Art exhibition has expanded the festival beyond cinema into a broader cultural event.
Past Winners
The PSFF presents awards across multiple categories. The top prize is Film of the Year. The festival has run 14 editions (2012-2025).
2025 Winners (14th Edition)
- Film of the Year: We the Surfers directed by Arthur Bourbon (France) - surfers in Liberia building community through surfing
- Audience Award: Rythym directed by Ryan Le Garrec
- Best Short: Buoyancy: a surf story from Taiwan directed by Jonis Strom
- Women in Surf Films: CEIBO directed by Lucy Small and Maddie Meddings
- Best Cinematography: Teranga, Route Pour Dakar by Charly Merceron and Yann Defay
- Best Editing: In Search for Volcano Island by Ben Weiland
- Impactful Story: Momento by Gabriel Ingber and Guiga Schwartz
- Best Sustainability: The Big Sea by Lewis Arnold
- Best Soundtrack: From Dust to Dream by Pedro Scansetti
- Best Ericeira: Identidade by Sara Guix Ortigosa
- Honorable Mentions: Maya and the Wave and Modo Avion
2024 Winners (13th Edition)
- Film of the Year: Territorio Africano
- Best Short: House of Bliss
- Women in Surf Films: Catching Time
- Best Cinematography: Children of Teahupo'o
- Impactful Story: The Blind Sea
- Best Sustainability: Beyond a Wall of Sea
- Audience Award: Granny Gromets
- Best Ericeira: Guzo
2023 Winners (12th Edition)
- Film of the Year: Wade in the Water
- Best Short: Wetsuit
- Women in Surf Films: Point of Change
- Best Cinematography: The Corners of the Earth
- Best Editing: Savage Waters
- Impactful Story: Last Known Coordinates
- Best Sustainability: Bonded by the Ocean
- Spirit of the Festival: Buarcos
2012 Winners (1st Edition)
- Surf Film Best: Nervous Laughter by Dan Norkunas
- Shorts Best: Blackboy by Dustin Humphrey
- Sustainability Best: Given by Jess Bianchi
- Impactful Story: Gaza Surf Club by P. Gnadt and M. Yamine
- Ericeira Award: SACA by Julio Adler
- Women in Surf: Being There by Lea Brassy
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- Maya and the Wave (2025 Honorable Mention) tells the story of Maya Gabeira, the first woman to surf the giant wave in Nazare, Portugal. It is available in theaters and has screened at multiple festivals.
- The Blind Sea (2024 Impactful Story winner) premiered at the Sydney Opera House and went on to play 1,200+ screenings across Australia. It is now streaming on Netflix Australia and New Zealand.
- Gaza Surf Club (2012 Impactful Story winner) screened at IDFA and TIFF. It was distributed theatrically in Germany and other territories.
- We the Surfers (2025 Film of the Year) is available on VOD through Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play.
- Savage Waters (2023 Best Editing winner) was released in UK cinemas through Tull Stories in October 2023. It premiered at DocLands Documentary Festival.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
PSFF does not accept films that are already publicly available online. This is a stricter rule than most festivals. Plan your online release strategy accordingly.
The festival values surf culture storytelling over pure action sports content. Films that explore the human side of surfing - community, travel, environmentalism, personal journeys - tend to win the top prizes.
The Women in Surf Films category is a dedicated award. If your film features women in surfing, submit in this category for a more targeted competitive field.
The Best Sustainability award recognizes environmental filmmaking. Films about ocean conservation, plastic pollution, and sustainable surf culture are strong candidates.
The Best Ericeira award is given to films that capture the spirit of Ericeira. If your film has a connection to Ericeira or the World Surfing Reserve, highlight this.
Each selected film receives two screenings at the Casa de Cultura, plus potential inclusion in free beach screenings. The beach screenings draw large crowds.
Industry Reputation Notes
PSFF is the longest-running dedicated surf film festival in the world, founded in 2012. It has established itself as the premier platform for surf cinema, programming 30+ films per edition from international submissions.
Compared to other surf festivals like the Surf Film Festival in Anglet, France, or the defunct New York Surf Film Festival, PSFF benefits from its World Surfing Reserve location. Ericeira's surf culture gives the festival direct access to the community most invested in surf cinema.
The festival does not host a formal film market. However, the concentration of surf industry brands (Hurley, Fuel TV) and filmmakers creates informal networking opportunities. Filmmakers seeking distribution in the surf and action sports market should connect with industry attendees during the festival.
The festival's media partnership with Fuel TV gives selected films potential broadcast exposure. This is a distribution pathway that most niche film festivals cannot offer.
Watch
See Also
For adventure and outdoor filmmaking, see Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. For documentary filmmaking approaches, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For festival strategy and planning, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate the return on festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. Visit the official PSFF website for current submission information.
